Leading Presidential Candidates Denounce Haiti Elections

[bcholmes]

Twelve presidential candidates, including all the leading contenders excepting Preval's chosen heir, have just called for the election in Haiti to be cancelled. They are also calling for their supporters to fill the streets in protest.

Haiti was plunged into political crisis after a majority of the presidential candidates rejected the vote before it was even over, decrying the election as fraud-filled.

Their declaration, made at a joint press conference yesterday afternoon, raised the spectre of violence in the streets, with fears that some Haitians may attempt to force the ouster of President René Préval or attack supporters of his protégé, candidate Jude Célestin, who were accused of orchestrating the alleged fraud.

— "Haitians take to the streets as voters, candidates declare election a fraud", The Globe and Mail

Certainly, there were many reasons to doubt the fairness of the election prior to today. During my trip there in December, I spoke to many people deeply concerned about the arbitrary exclusion of 14 political parties from the elections -- including the country's most popular party, Fanmi Lavalas. Haitians were concerned about these exclusions in the 2006 and 2009 elections. Now, with the Presidential election on the line, this issue seems to be coming to a head.

Comments

[the_future_modernes]

Thank you! I am not surprised that this happened though its quite unfortunate. *sigh*