Results of first round of presidential elections to be known on Thursday

In Haiti the Provisional Electoral Council (CEP) says the results of the legislative and first round presidential elections will be known on Thursday.

“Publication of the results have been postponed until to take into account all of the complaints that have been received,” said CEP president Pierre-Louis Opont.

Last Friday he had told reporters that the election results would have been known on November 3.

Last week, the special anti-fraud Commission established by the CEP following the October 25 polls said it had received 162 complaints.

 

At least 800 workers and 28 lawyers have been at the vote-tabulation center reviewing tally sheets from the 13,275 polling stations from around the country and Prime Minister Paul Evans Paul has appealed for calm pending the outcome of the elections to choose a new parliament and a replacement for President Michael Martelly, who is barred by the constitution from seeking a third consecutive term.

There were 54 candidates contesting the presidency, including the government-backed candidate Jovenel Moise and opposition candidates Jude Célestin, Moise Jean-Charles, and Dr. Maryse Narcisse.