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Haiti Again Suspends Its Presidential Runoff. Few Solutions In Sight

Dieu Naleio Chery
/
AP via Miami Herald
Haitians protest their electoral system this week.

This afternoon Haiti once again postponed its presidential runoff election.

The vote – originally slated for last month – was going to be held on Sunday. But Haitian election officials said they canceled it because it was too hazardous. Street protests have gotten violent in recent days, with demonstrators condemning what they call a fraudulent and incompetent electoral process.

This is the second time the presidential runoff has been suspended. It was first scheduled for December 27. But it was called off amid charges that President Michel Martelly had rigged the vote in favor of his candidate, JovenelMoïse. (By law Martelly cannot run for a second term.)

A new vote was set for January 24. But Moïse’s opponent – Jude Célestin – decided to boycott it. In a Miami Herald op-ed today he called the runoff a “farce.”

Célestin hailed the election cancelation as a “victory for democracy.” But for impoverished Haiti it’s more likely a lose-lose situation.

Even if the vote were held on Sunday, the winner would carry scant legitimacy. But it’s uncertain now when or if Haiti can pull together a credible election. A new president is supposed to be sworn in February 7.

Tim Padgett is the Americas Editor for WLRN, covering Latin America, the Caribbean and their key relationship with South Florida. Contact Tim at tpadgett@wlrnnews.org
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