By JONATHAN M. KATZ (AP) – Jun 29, 2010
PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti — Haitian President Rene Preval set Nov. 28 as the date voters will choose his successor as leader of the earthquake-shattered Caribbean nation.
The much-anticipated decree setting the election date was signed Tuesday beside Port-au-Prince's collapsed national palace, bearing the signatures of the president, prime minister and Cabinet. Voters will also choose legislators for Haiti's now mostly vacant parliament.
The date itself is not a surprise: Haiti's current constitution mandates elections be held the last Sunday of November in the fifth year of the president's term.
But opponents had expressed concern that Preval was dragging his feet on holding the election, especially after he signed a decree extending his term by three months if voting was not held on time. That decision was met with protests. He responded by pledging to leave office by Feb. 7, 2011.
Organizing the elections will be no simple task.
The electoral council's headquarters were destroyed and records lost in the Jan. 12 quake, while millions of voters were either killed, made homeless or displaced. Before the quake Preval's opponents accused him of manipulating the council to benefit his allies and threatened to disrupt elections if the current officials are not replaced.
The Organization of American States, United Nations and others have pledged support for setting up the elections. Officials cite the need for national organization in the rebuilding and continuing efforts to strengthen democratic institutions in a country where government overthrows have been far more common than free elections.
Haiti's constitution does not permit Preval to run again.
Copyright © 2010 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
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2 comments:
I would like to know when the next election will take place because it is about time that us who are living abroad should have the freedom like every Haitian living in Haiti to become candidate for president in Haiti. Above all criticism, we are Haitians like they are. I believe the ideology that Haitian living in Haiti have painted upon us to make us look like trash and foreigners in our country is egotistic and self centered. If they know their history well many of our Haitian fore-father have resided in foreign land fighting with them for their independence and return to Haiti to free the people from servitude (for example, General Toussaint L'Ouverture who could be a good leader for Haiti if he was not deported to the Summit Jura in France where he died of pneumonia and tuberculosis.
Whatever the reason why we cannot become president of our country no matter of our status in a foreign land, we need a legitimate explanation. Do not lean on the constitutional law because it has been changed, forfeited, falsified by several elected head of state and others. We are are asking for a reform of the Haitian constitution to allow us Haitian abroad to participate in presidential election. When this happen, then Haiti will be a step toward democracy they the Haitian claim they have. if and according to constitutional law of Haiti, this president can extend his presidency beyond a fifth year term, then and then we Haitian living outre-mer should be allowed to participate in all Haitian democratic election, either for major, council men, congress or president.
Franklin
I would like to know when the next election will take place because it is about time that us who are living abroad should have the freedom like every Haitian living in Haiti to become candidate for president in Haiti. Above all criticism, we are Haitians like they are. I believe the ideology that Haitian living in Haiti have painted upon us to make us look like trash and foreigners in our country is egotistic and self centered. If they know their history well many of our Haitian fore-father have resided in foreign land fighting with them for their independence and return to Haiti to free the people from servitude (for example, General Toussaint L'Ouverture who could be a good leader for Haiti if he was not deported to the Summit Jura in France where he died of pneumonia and tuberculosis.
Whatever the reason why we cannot become president of our country no matter of our status in a foreign land, we need a legitimate explanation. Do not lean on the constitutional law because it has been changed, forfeited, falsified by several elected head of state and others. We are are asking for a reform of the Haitian constitution to allow us Haitian abroad to participate in presidential election. When this happen, then Haiti will be a step toward democracy they the Haitian claim they have. if and according to constitutional law of Haiti, this president can extend his presidency beyond a fifth year term, then and then we Haitian living outre-mer should be allowed to participate in all Haitian democratic election, either for major, council men, congress or president.
Franklin
July 30, 2010 5:05 PM
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