Fraud allegations prompt call to relaunch Haiti presidential poll

An independent commission has recommended cancelling results of Haiti’s first-round presidential elections held in October, saying they were marred by fraud, according to France 24.

“It would be fair and just that, at least as far as the presidential elections are concerned, the process is relaunched from scratch,” commission president Francois Benoit said.

“The number of votes that could not be traced almost exceeded the number of legitimate votes obtained by politicians.”

Haiti has been mired in a deep political crisis since the election process was halted in January amid violence.

The opposition at the time claimed ex-president Michel Martelly had backed an “electoral coup.”

The presidential election has been repeatedly postponed, with the most recent vote, scheduled for April 24, never materializing and officials setting no new date.

Source ; MENA