Election - Haiti Observer Blog

A survey conducted by the Haitian surveys firm Brides has Jovenel Moise once again leading the presidential race in Haiti. He is estimated to be winning 41 percent of the votes, while Jude Celestin is trailing with 25.2% of likely voters. Here is the actual ranking by candidate:

Jovenel Moïse (P.H.T.K) - 4,868 votes (41.0%)
Jude Célestin (LAPEH) - 2,994 votes (25.2%)
Jean Charles Mouise (Pitit Dessalin) - 1,487 votes (12.5%)
Maryse Narcisse (Fanmi Lavalas) - 901 votes (7.6%)
Jean Henry Céant (Renmen Ayiti) - 209 votes (1.8%)
Beauzile Edmonde Ssupplice - (FUSION) 77 votes (0.6%)
Jean·Chavannes Jeune (Canaan) - 45 votes (0.4%)
Jean Clarens Rendis (UNIR) - 43 votes (0.4%)
Maxo Joseph (Randevous) - 43 votes (0.4%)
Daniel Dupiton (CONAPPH) - 32 votes (0.3%)
Jean Hervé Charles (PENH) - 24 votes (0.2%)
Luckner Désir (MPH) 24 votes - (0.2%)
Jacques Sampeur (KLE) 23 votes - (0.2%)
Roland Magloire (PDI) 19 votes - (0.2%)

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The President of the CEP, Leopold Berlanger, thinks he has the problem regarding "Mandataires" or poll watchers under control for the next election scheduled for October 9, 2016. Berlanger admitted that what has triggered fraud in the previous election was the phenomenon of assigning blank accreditation cards to over 1 million poll watchers or "Mandataires" and allowing them to potentially cast multiple ballots at any polling station they want.

The current plan is to assign "Mandataires" only to the voting centers and polling stations where they are registered. Leopold Berlanger thinks that will reduce the potential for fraud.

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Twelve Senators currently supporting Jocelerme Privert want to contribute financially for the organization of the next elections in Haiti. They wrote to Prime Minister Enex Jean Charles, asking him to order Finance to hold their paychecks for the months of August and September. These Senators decided to do that following the decision by the United States not to finance the next elections in Haiti.

Here are their names of the Senators who agreed to forgo their paychecks for August and September:
Jean Baptiste Bien-Aime,
Wetsner Polycarpe,
Fritz Carlos Lebon,
Ronald Lareche
Antonio 'Don Kato' Cheramy
Nenel Cassy,
Evalliere Beauplan,
Ricard Pierre,
Francisco Delaruz,
Francois Lucas Saintvil,
Steven Irvenson Benoit,
Francenet Denius

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The international community doesn't want to fund our next presidential election, no problem. The new Director of Haiti State run National Lottery, Ms. Margareth Fortune believes that we can pay for our own election with fund from the Haiti National Lottery. On the other hand, the former candidate for Platfom Jistis, Andre Michel, thinks that the decision taken by the American government not to help with the election is not a bad decision. The Haitian government should open a special account at the BNC to receive contributions from Haitian citizens inside or outside of the country to help in financing the election. According to the former candidate, the country will take this opportunity to set up process to take back its sovereignty.

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The United States has suspended its financial assistance toward the completion of the presidential election process in Haiti and made it clear that they will not give even a penny for the Oct. 9 rerun election. According to State Department spokesman John Kirby on Thursday, "We did not plan funding for two more electoral rounds in 2016 and 2017". Mr Kirby explained in his news briefing that the suspension of electoral aid did not mean a reduction in U.S. support for various development projects in Haiti.

This is not a shock to the Haitian authorities. Instead it might be welcome even though the government doesn't necessarily have the fund to conduct these elections. The president of the CEP Léopold Berlanger as well as interim President Jocelerme Privert have stated in the past that these elections should be funded by Haitians. Presidential spokesman Serge Simon has stated recently that: "We already made ourselves clear: Haiti will make all effort to find the $55 million to do the elections."

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The president of the CEP, Leopold Berlanger,felt that he did not receive the respect he deserves as CEP president when he went to celebrate Fourth of July America Independence day at the private residence of the US ambassador in Port-au-Prince. According to journalist Tamara Orion of Signal FM, Leopold Berlanger accompanied by his wife was stopped at the gate of the Ambassador's residence and forbidden from going in in his car. The President of the CEP was instructed by the guard to go park his car at a golf course located at quite some distance from the residence before the couple could get in. Upset by the reception, Mr. Berlanger insisted in telling the guards that he was the president of the CEP. Finally, as he was unable to get access with his car, Leopold Berlanger decided to leave without attending the 4th of July celebration.

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The Senator of Ayiti An Asyon (AAA) Youri Latortue, former adviser to President Michel Martelly admitted that PHTK had rigged the elections of August 9 and October 25, 2015

"We believe that President Jocelerme Privert is rigging the coming elections in favor a a specific group, the same way PHTK was doing".

What do you think for someone who was close adviser to president Michel Martelly to admit something like this?

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Experts of the Electoral Observation Mission of the European Union stated that the so called massive irregularities and frauds alleged during the last election in Haiti did not materialize. The EU-EOM notes that the report by the the Commission of Verification (CIEVE) did not prove that serious fraud or irregularities took place or had an impact on the results. As a result, there was nothing in the report to trigger a change in the positioning of the main candidates. The Electoral Observation Mission of European Union concluded that the results of the Commission of Verification (CIEVE) has in fact been manipulated.

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We have learned that there is a high possibility that one candidate could represent the G8 in the next presidential election in Haiti. I know what the next question is and I will answer it immediately. No, Moise Jean-Charles will not fall for something like this and would run under the banner "Pitit Dessalin". the group is currently working on the plan if thy manage to have a consensus on one candidate, it will likely be Jude Celestin.

Wouldn't this be interesting if we could have a race with Jude Celestin, Moise Jean-Charles, Maryse Narcisse and Jovenel Moise?

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The EU has finally reacted to the Verification Commission findings and the changes in the electoral calendars in Haiti. According to a statement released: "The announcement by the Provisional Electoral Council (CEP) of Haiti, of the new timetable for legislative and presidential elections implies the cancellation of the first round of presidential elections of October 2015." "This announcement and its consequences go against the findings of the Electoral Observation Mission of the European Union deployed at the invitation of the Haitian authorities in July 2015." As a result, the mission considers the conditions not appropriate to continue with their mission in Haiti.

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