Haiti’s Prime Minister Evans Paul has recommended the establishment of an electoral commission that would make recommendations to the government and electoral council ahead of this month’s presidential run off.
According to Paul the commission would be charged with guaranteeing the credibility of the process.
In a press release issued early Thursday, Paul said the commission – that has been recommended to President Michel Martelly, would have 72 hours to report back with recommendations to the government and the country’s nine-member Provisional Electoral Council (CEP).
Paul said the government believes that the commission is necessary to help consolidate political and social stability, and organize elections that are “credible, transparent, participatory and inclusive.”
The recommendation comes as Haiti remains engulfed in an electoral crisis with many doubting whether the runoff will take place as scheduled on December 27.
Local observer groups and opposition candidates have alleged “massive fraud” in the balloting in favor of Martelly’s handpicked successor, banana exporter Jovenel Moise.
The first round of the presidential election on October 25 had been marred by acts of violence, allegations of voter irregularities and the CEP said none of the candidates reached the benchmark of 50 per cent plus one of the votes, nor a lead of 25 per cent or more, as required by Haiti’s Constitution and Electoral Decree to win the presidency thereby requiring a run-off election.
Ever since the results were announced, opposition parties have staged demonstrations in the capital and elsewhere calling for the resignation of the CEP as well as the postponement of the second round of balloting.
