Haitian President Michel Martelly has defended much-criticized elections in the divided country and asserted that the opposition has spread unsubstantiated allegations about widespread electoral fraud purely to strengthen its position.
Haiti Heads to Polls, Holds Breath. Haitians go to the polls today to vote for a new president, the climax of a contest heaving with 54 candidates in an impoverished country notorious for chronic political instability. The legitimacy of the future Haitian president is already compromised two weeks before the vote gets underway, with a lackluster electoral campaign and a very low expected turnout.
President Francois Hollande arrived in Haiti on Tuesday to boost France's role in what was once its richest Caribbean possession but is now a desperately poor nation with a bitter colonial legacy. Haitian President Michel Martelly on Thursday named veteran politician Evans Paul prime minister to lead a new government, as he seeks to defuse a crisis over long-delayed elections. Under normal circumstances, the prime minister and the electoral authority would have to be ratified by parliament.
In a phone call with Martelly on Friday U. Vice President Joe Biden commended his efforts to reach a negotiated agreement with the parliament, but Biden expressed disappointment with the failure of parliament to pass an electoral law before it lapsed.
As he announced last month, Martelly said he would install former Port-au-Prince Mayor Evans Paul as prime minister, with the composition of the new government to be announced over the weekend. For months Martelly battled opposition senators over an electoral law required before any vote can take place. He recognized on Friday that he had failed to hold elections, municipal or legislative since he assumed power in May Mr Martelly is constitutionally barred from seeking re-election but has thrown his weight behind Jovenel Moise, a banana exporter who won the first round of the presidential election in November.
But the result has been contested by the opposition challenger, Jude Celestin. He accused the electoral authorities of favouring Mr Moise and threatened to pull out of the runoff vote. Prime Minister Evans Paul - who is due to remain in his post until parliament agrees his replacement - has appealed for calm.
On Friday, protesters beat a man to death in the capital, Port-au-Prince, in a clash with ex-soldiers. Haiti country profile. Political crisis turns lethal in Haiti. Haiti candidate: Polls 'a farce'. Haiti elections postponed again.
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