UN Council 'disappointment' over lack of Haiti vote

The UN Security Council expressed "deep disappointment" with electoral gridlock in Haiti Saturday, a day in which the country had been slated to inaugurate a new president but did not due to an indefinitely postponed vote.

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

In a statement, members of the UN Security Council "expressed their deep disappointment that Haitian actors failed to meet the election and inauguration deadlines agreed upon."

Haiti has been in deep political crisis since its first postponement in December, when a runoff between then-president Michel Martelly's favored candidate Jovenel Moise and opposition flag-bearer Jude Celestin was called off amid violence and allegations of fraud in the first round.

Meanwhile, interim President Jocelerme Privert was elected on February 14 for three months to oversee the April run-off as well as partial legislative and local elections. He was slated to hand over power on May 14.

However persistent distrust among the political class has made organizing a vote impossible, and lawmakers are unable to decide on the fate of the presidency once Privert's mandate expires.

To restore confidence in the electoral process, the interim president installed an independent evaluation commission tasked with verifying the results of the 2015 election. Its recommendations are expected by the end of the month.

While welcoming its work, the UN Security Council also stressed "the need for the commission to be technical, apolitical, transparent and complete its work within its 30-day mandate."

Meanwhile, those opposed to Privet have disputed the commission's work.

Hundreds of demonstrators supporting Moise's candidacy protested Saturday in the capital of Port-au-Prince, demanding Privert's immediate departure.

"The agreement said today he would hand over power to an elected president and he was not able to offer us the elections so he has to go," said protester Joel Camille.

Source: AFP