News

• Jun 19, 2012: Haití: Francia aborda con gobierno de Haití financiación de elecciones parciales, Spanish People (2012) Francia confirmó hoy que mantiene conversaciones con las autoridades haitianas para financiar las elecciones parciales programadas para este año y que según expertos podrían costar unos 25 millones de dólares.
• Mar 13, 2012: Caricom leaders want early ratification of new Haitian Prime minister, Jamaica Observer (2012) Caribbean Community (Caricom) leaders say they were looking forward "to the early ratification" of a new prime minister for Haiti following the sudden resignation of Prime Minister Dr Garry Conille last month.
• Mar 13, 2012:
• Jun 30, 2011: Haitian elections a frustration for donors: cable, Embassy Magazine (2011) The article discusses a recently released US diplomatic cable that highlights the frustration of the international community leading up to the 2009 elections in Haiti, with the Canadian ambassador flagging transparency issues over the banning of a popular opposition party.
• Jun 22, 2011: Haiti parliament rejects Martelly's pick for PM, AFP (2011) The Haitian parliament has rejected President Michel Martelly's choice of prime minister. Deputies voted 42 to 19 to turn down Daniel-Gerard Rouzier for the post.
• May 26, 2011: Haiti:Joint OAS-CARICOM Electoral Observation Mission Highlights Technical, Organizational and Security Improvements in Haiti Elections, Bahamas Weekly (2011) The Joint Electoral Observation Mission (JEOM) in Haiti deployed by the Organization of American States (OAS) and the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) says in terms of efficiency, the second round of the presidential and legislative elections in the Caribbean country was far superior to the first round in terms of organization and security.
• May 20, 2011:
• May 17, 2011: Haiti: UN Council praises 'peaceful' Haiti election, AP via MSNBC (2011) In a statement released on Tuesday, the U.N. Security Council's acting president and French Ambassador Gerard Araud has congratulated the Haitian people on a peaceful end to a complicated election process.
• May 16, 2011: Haiti: Martelly wants business leader as prime minister, AP via Miami Herald (2011) Following the resignation of former Haitian Prime Minister, Jean-Max Bellerive, the recently inaugurated President Michel Martelly has named business leader, Daniel-Gerard Rouzier, to be the country's number two official. However, this decision is subject to approval in Parliament.
• May 16, 2011:
• May 16, 2011: Haiti Prime Minister Jean-Max Bellerive resigns, Miami Herald (2011) A day before Haiti's new president Michel Martelly was sworn in, Haitian Prime Minister Jean-Max Bellerive resigned from his post to allow the new president to name his own government chief.
• May 15, 2011: Haiti swears in musician amid hopes that post-quake reconstruction will finally get started, Washington Post (2011) Following the recent legislative elections that were marred by allegations of corruption, Haiti swears in its new president, pop-singer, Michel Martelly. At his inauguration on Saturday, May 14, Martelly outlined his top priorities for rebuilding the country - a plan that focused on education, tax collection, security and foreign investment.
• May 13, 2011: Haiti: UN mission calls for explanation on results of three disputed districts, Spero News (2011) The United Nations peacekeeping mission in Haiti has called for an explanation from the electoral authorities in that country to explain why their results from three districts in recent legislative elections do not match the figures of local and international observers.
• May 13, 2011:
• May 13, 2011:
• May 13, 2011: Haitian pop star turned leader faces high expectations, Reuters (2011) The article explores the challenges ahead for Haiti's president-elect Michel Martelly as he replaces outgoing president Rene Preval.
• May 13, 2011:
• May 12, 2011: Haiti: Michel Martelly, the Minustah and U.S. Embassy react Statements issued by Michael Martelly, the Minisutah and the US Embassy on the recent annulment of some of the legislative elections results.
• May 12, 2011: Haiti officials reverse some legislative races challenged by foreign observers, Washington Post (2011) In light of international concern over fraudulent activity in the recent Haitian election, the electoral results of fifteen out of nineteen legislative seats were overturned in Haiti. The votes were re-tallied after the US and other international partners pressured the government to explain the wide variance between preliminary tallies and the official count released just a few weeks later.
• May 11, 2011: Haitian diaspora allowed to vote, AFP (2011) Haitian legislators have approved ammendments to the 1987 constitution to recognize multiple citizenship for Haitians living abroad. This amendment now gives the near four million members of the disapora the right to vote, a major political shift for the Caribbean nation.
• May 11, 2011:
• May 09, 2011: Haiti debates dual citizenship change, Miami Herald, (2011) Members of Haiti’s parliament on Saturday began debate on several changes to the country’s 1987 constitution, including one that would do away with a law banning dual nationality. Currently Haitians who have accepted citizenship from other countries are denied the right to vote in their native country.
• May 08, 2011: Haiti: BCEN to conduct audit of election tabulations Haiti's Provisional Electoral Council (CEP) has announced the establishment of a National Electoral Complaints and Challenges Bureau (BCEN) to conduct an audit of the Vote Tabulation Center (CTV) and the results of the 19 contested cases.
• May 08, 2011:
• May 08, 2011: Haiti: Civil society organisations support OAS-CARICOM report Six civil service groups have expressed their support for the report released by the joint OAS-CARICOM observer mission team on the recent legislative elections in Haiti, which have been marred by allegations of corruption and fraud.
• May 06, 2011:
• May 06, 2011: Haiti's Martelly vows 'rule of law', AFP, (2011) Haiti's president-elect Michel Martelly is promising to impose a legal crackdown after his May 14 inauguration in the midst of contorversy over the recent legislative election results.
• Apr 30, 2011: US senator urges State Dept to considering sanctions for Haitian officials amid fraud concerns, Daily Journal (2011) US Senator Patrick Leahy of Vermont, in a letter addressed to US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, urged the State Department to examine the visa and U.S. residency status of Haitian officials suspected of engaging in fraud in Haiti's legislative elections.
• Apr 30, 2011:
• Apr 30, 2011: Haiti: Some senators want an investigation, Haiti Libre (2011) A number of Haitian senators are suggesting that an investigation be conducted into allegations that some electoral advisors including President of the Provisional Electoral Council (CEP) Gaillot Dorsainvil were paid to tamper with the election results of March 20.
• Apr 30, 2011: Experts want Haiti vote results annuled, News24.com (2011) The Joint OAS-CARICOM Electoral Observation Mission (JEOM) has recommended that Haitian authorities annul the victories of 19 ruling party candidates in the recent legislative elections on the basis of suspected fraud.
• Apr 29, 2011:
• Apr 29, 2011:
• Apr 28, 2011:
• Apr 28, 2011: Haiti Elections: Pierre-Louis Opont disclaims responsibility, Haiti Libre (2011) Director General of Haiti's Provisional Electoral Council (CEP)Pierre Louis Opont says he is not resposible for the final results released by the CEP, that has been accused of fraud and corruption.
• Apr 28, 2011:
• Apr 27, 2011:
• Apr 27, 2011:
• Apr 27, 2011: Haitian CEP official questions election results, resigns, People's Daily Online (2011) The article discusses the results of legislative elections in Haiti. According to Xinhua news agency, one member of the Provincial Electoral Council has resigned and is disagreeing with the council's decisions.
• Apr 26, 2011: Haiti: International Monitors Examine Election Results, The New York Times (2011) The article discusses the results of legislative elections in Haiti. International observers have began examining the results after the Electoral Commissioner said on Monday that the certification of results will be delayed.
• Apr 26, 2011:
• Apr 21, 2011:
• Apr 21, 2011: Final results: Pop star declared Haitian president After a delayed election, tarnished by reports of irregularities and subsequent rioting, final results have confirmed popular singer Michel Martelly as the new Haitian president. Martelly received 67.6 percent of the votes cast.
• Apr 21, 2011:
• Apr 21, 2011:
• Apr 20, 2011:
• Apr 15, 2011: Final results of Haitian election delayed, Jamaica Observer (2011) The article reports that the final results of the Haitian presidential elections will be announced on Monday the 18th of April instead of Saturday as originally planned. The reason for the delay is that not all the conditions have been met for the presentation of final results, says a government official. Singer Michel Martelly won the election with 68 per cent of the votes.
• Apr 06, 2011: New Haitian Leader Pledges Reconciliation, The New York Times (2011) The article discusses the results of Haitian presidential elections. Former singer Michel Martelly won two-thirds of the votes cast in the elections on 20 March.
• Apr 04, 2011: Haiti awaits election results amid fears of violence, Xinhua (2011) The article discusses vote counting in Haitian presidential elections. An announcement was originally scheduled for Thursday, but had been postponed until April 4.
• Apr 04, 2011:
• Apr 04, 2011:
• Apr 04, 2011:
• Mar 30, 2011: Haiti Election Count Delayed, The Wall Street Journal (2011) The article discusses vote counting in Haitian presidential elections. The Electoral Council has said that the results will be announced 4 April instead of 31 March due to detected fraud and high turnout.
• Mar 28, 2011: Ballot mistake in Haiti's election was corrected: UN spokesman, People's Daily Online (2011) The article discusses problems in elections material in Haitian presidential elections. According to the UN spokesman, some incomplete electoral kits were delivered to polling stations but the mistake was quickly fixed.
• Mar 28, 2011: Haiti - Elections : At least 55 arrests related to elections, Haiti Libre (2011) The article discusses election-related violence in Haiti. The national police and UN's mission to Haiti arrested at least 55 people during the 20 March presidential elections.
• Mar 28, 2011: U.S. Says Haiti’s Election Improves on November 2010 Vote, South Florida Caribbean News (2011) The article presents Obama administration's statement of Haitian presidential elections. According to the spokesman and international election observation the recent elections were more peaceful than November 2010 elections in Haiti.
• Mar 24, 2011: Haiti's electoral council says election results to be relased on time, People's Daily Online (2011) The article discusses vote counting in Haitian presidential elections. Preliminary results are to be published by the end of March.
• Mar 21, 2011: Counting under way in Haiti's delayed presidential poll, BBC News (2011) The article describes the process of vote counting after Haiti's presidential elections. Preliminary results are expected on 31 March with final results not set to be confirmed until 16 April.
• Mar 21, 2011: Haitians elect president in delayed second round, BBC News (2011) The article discusses Haitian presidential elections held on Sunday 20 March. The vote counting is still ongoing.
• Mar 18, 2011: Factbox: Haiti's presidential run-off candidates, Reuters (2011) The article presents the two remaining candidates in the forthcoming presidential elections in Haiti.
• Mar 17, 2011: Aristide the wild card in Haiti’s election, The Star (2011) The article discusses the former President Jean-Bertrand Aristide's arrival to Haiti. His presence in the country is controversial as other candidates and the USA have asked him to remain outside the country until the polling is over.
• Mar 14, 2011: Haiti: UN plans to reinforce police for presidential run-off elections, UN News Centre (2011) This article reports on the preparations for the elections in Haiti. For the upcoming presidential runoff (March 20), the UN police force in the country is planning to reinforce its support of national police. Apart from its police component (3,500), the UN Stabilization Mission in Haiti has about 8,500 peacekeeping troops.
• Mar 14, 2011:
• Mar 14, 2011: Haiti: 'Sweet Micky' gets makeover, The Miami Herald (2011) This article reports on the recent "makeover" undergone by Haitian presidential candidate Michel Martelly. Popular singer and self-proclaimed "bad boy" radically changed his outlook and his style for the campaign thanks to a Spanish consulting firm with right-of-center ties.
• Mar 14, 2011: Haiti: Michel Martelly backed by losing candidates, BBC News (2011) This article reports on the electoral campaign in Haiti. In a joint statement, five losing candidates of the first round presidential election announced their support to Michel Martelly, praising his openness in the campaign and his promises to promote democracy and development.
• Mar 14, 2011: Manigat campaigns on her own terms for Haiti presidency, The Miami Herald (2011) This article reports on the electoral campaign for the runoff presidential election in Haiti. The author describes and comments Mirlande Manigat's campaign, a 70-year-old former First Lady. Both candidates, Mrs Manigat and pop-singer Michel “Sweet Micky’’ Martelly, have very good chances of winning.
• Mar 14, 2011: In Haiti, officials promise fixes ahead of March runoff election, The Miami Herald (2011) This article reports on the preparations for the upcoming runoff elections in Haiti. A series of measures have been implemented by the Provisional Electoral Council to guarantee fair and free elections. A 24-hour call center, for example, has been created to answer questions from voters, and new requirements for poll workers have been established. Many observers, however, doubt whether the new measures will boost voters' confidence and prevent fraud and disorganization.
• Feb 18, 2011: 2 Haiti presidential candidates start campaigns, Newsday (2011) This article reports on the beginning of the electoral campaign in Haiti. In particular, most of the media and the voters are focusing on the presidential campaign, as Mirlande Manigat and Michel Martelly will present their plans for the management of the foreign aid and the design of the recovery strategy.
• Feb 18, 2011:
• Feb 18, 2011: Haiti - Elections: Launching of the electoral campaign for the second round, Haiti Libre (2011) This article reports on the official opening of the campaign for the second round of presidential and legislative elections in Haiti. Gaillot Dorsainvil, President of the the Provisional Electoral Council, appealed to candidates to discipline their supporters and respect of the Elections Law. The campaign will officially end on March 18.
• Feb 17, 2011: Wyclef Jean backs musician in Haiti election, Reuters (2011) This article reports on Wyclef Jean's decision to announce publicly his support to presidential candidate Michel Martelly. Experts believe that this will may provide a significant boost to the Martelly's candidacy.
• Feb 17, 2011: This time, the people of Haiti may win, The Guardian (2011) this article reports on the main issues discussed in the electoral campaign in Haiti. According to the author, the United States interventions in Haiti's political affairs have been the prime cause of instability in the country. However, the author argues, there have been some changes in the past few months.
• Feb 17, 2011: Haiti candidates press for more quake aid, The Times Live (2011) This article reports on the electoral campaign in Haiti. popular singer Michel Martelly, who qualified for the second round after a long an OAS expert team reported widespread fraud in the first round of the election, and Mirlande Manigat attended a meeting of the Interim Haiti Recovery Commission, and discussed a possible timetable for the reconstruction plan.
• Feb 09, 2011: Experts fret over Haiti's runoff election, UPI (2011) This article discusses the main challenges ahead of the presidential runoff in Haiti. One challenge, for example, will be to guarantee a broader participation, especially from the citizens still displaced around the country: on November 28 only 28% of the people voted. The Organization of American State announced its decision to deploy more observers for the March 20 runoff (from the current 120 to 200).
• Feb 08, 2011: The former pop singer who could be Haiti’s president, The Miami Herald (2011) This article presents an interview to Michel Martelly and discusses his candidacy as president of Haiti. In this article Martelly outlines the main issues in his electoral programme and discusses the possible solutions to the country's problems.
• Feb 08, 2011: Just 2 candidates, but worries for Haiti’s runoff, The New York Times (2011) This article presents the two candidates that will compete in the upcoming presidential runoff in Haiti, Mirlande Manigat and Michel Martelly, who - the author explains - have very different backgrounds and styles. Right after the November elections, riots broke out in the streets to protest fraud allegations, and now many Haitians and experts fear that the second round will trigger new violence.
• Feb 04, 2011: Haiti's decision, The Miami Herald (2011) This article discusses the possible consequences of the decision of the Provisional Electoral Council in Haiti to settle the electoral dispute over the presidential poll. The author argues that the runoff selection will allow the country to move forward, and also to put the country on the same page as the intentional community. With a credible, legitimate government, the country will be able to move on with the long-delayed recovery.
• Feb 04, 2011: Haiti panel announces candidates for runoff presidential election, The Washington Post (2011) This article reports on the announcement of the election officials regarding the runoff presidential election. Many weeks after the elections, the Electoral Council decided to push candidate Jude Celestin out of the electoral race: Michel Martelly will be the one competing against Mirlande Manigat in the second round.
• Feb 04, 2011: Haiti praised over election decision, The Jamaica Observer (2011) This article reports on the reactions of the international community regarding Haiti's decision to write off Jude Celestin from the presidential runoff. After a week-long political impasse, all international actors praised this decision and congratulated the two winning candidates, who will not compete in the second round.
• Feb 03, 2011: Edgy Haiti waits to see who will contest presidency, Reuters (2011) This article reports on the Haiti's Provisional Electoral Council's announcement of the definitive results of the November 28 presidential election. The second round is scheduled for March 20, but it is not clear who will compete in the election. Jude Celestin's election has been strongly criticized by the report of the experts team of the Organization of the American States (OAS), and Michel Martelly will likely take his place to run against Mirlande Manigat.
• Feb 03, 2011: Votes counted to find out who will contest presidency, The Independent (2011) These article reports on the announcement of the final results of the November elections in Haiti. The final results are expected to put an end to the controversies surrounding the poll, and announce the two candidate who will run in the second round of the presidential election.
• Feb 03, 2011: Mood tense in Haiti ahead of election results, The Miami Herald (2011) This article reports on the political situation in Haiti. The final results of the November elections will be announced shortly, and many citizens fear that new riots will broke out in the streets. When the preliminary results were announced on December 7, supporters of the presidential candidate Michel Martelly marched in the streets for his exclusion from the presidential runoff.
• Feb 03, 2011: Haiti election: Second round line-up to be announced, BBC News (2011) This article reports on the latest updates from Haiti. The country is waiting for the release of the final results of the disputed November elections, which will determine who will compete in the runoff presidential election. The second round, originally scheduled for January, is now set for March 20.
• Jan 28, 2011: Haiti: Célestin resists calls to pull out of election, The Miami Herald (2011) This article reports on the political crisis in Haiti. Presidential candidate Jude Célestin is resisting pressures from his political party and the President to withdraw from the runoff election, and finally solve the political impasse.
• Jan 28, 2011: Haiti's President urges his candidate to drop out, officials say, The New York Times (2011) This article reports on the decision of the ruling Unity party to withdrew its support to presidential candidate Jude Célestin. President Preval encourage his hand-picked candidate to drop out of the presidential race. Mr Célestin, however, would not comment on this, and his lawyers filed another petition to election officials.
• Jan 28, 2011: Haiti's ruling party withdraws support for election candidate, The Independent (2011) This article reports on the ongoing political crisis that followed the November elections in Haiti. The ruling Unity party withdrew its support to presidential candidate Jude Célestin, who has been at the center of the controversy. An experts team of the OAS found irregularities in Mr Célestin's election and recommended to let Michel Martelly run in the second round.
• Jan 27, 2011: Haiti under pressure to amend initial vote results, Reuters (2011) This article reports on the international community's pressure on the Haitian authorities to accept the recommendations of the OAS expert team regarding the November elections. The team found serious malpractices, and after reviewing the results, concluded that the government-backed candidate Jude Celestin came in third and should not participate in the second round of the election. The country is now enduring a political crisis.
• Jan 27, 2011: UN urges Haiti to end political crisis, VOA News (2011) This article reports on the statements of the United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations on the political situation in Haiti. Alain LeRoy, speaking to the U.N. Security Council, called for an end to the political crisis that followed the November elections and invited the provisional electoral commission to act on the recommendations of the OAS expert mission.
• Jan 20, 2011: Haiti election body indicates results will stick, Channel News Asia (2011) This article reports on the latest developments in Haiti. The Election Commission stated that the results of the presidential election cannot be revised on the basis of advice by international monitors but must follow legal procedures. In other words, the EC will change the ranks of the candidates only on the basis of legal complaints filed.
• Jan 18, 2011: Analysis of the OAS Mission's draft final report on Haiti's election, The Monthly Review (2011) This article discusses thoroughly the leaked report of the Organization of American States' expert team on the elections in Haiti. President Préval strongly criticized the conclusions of the report, and argued that the experts team was biased: six of the seven members of the OAS team came either from the United States, Canada or France, countries which had raised early public objections to election results. The article discusses the methodology used to assess the election, which was flawed according to the authors. The authors argue in favor of a re-run of the whole poll.
• Jan 17, 2011: Struggling Haiti faces crucial week in politics, The Montreal Gazette (2011) This article discusses the explosive election crisis in Haiti. The presidential runoff election was supposed to be held on Sunday, January 16, but the results of the first round have not been released yet.
• Jan 17, 2011: Standoff over presidential runoff seen as threat to Haiti, The Los Angeles Times (2011) This article discusses the possible consequences of the uncertainty caused by the disputed November elections in Haiti. According to the author, the current political crisis could further delay the recovery and it could be a serious threat for the country's future. Seven weeks after the poll, the government still refuses to accept the international panel's recommendations.
• Jan 17, 2011: Haiti elections officials receive report on disputed vote, The Miami Herald (2011) This article discusses the content of the report of the expert mission of the Organization of American States. The report, which assessed the disputed November election, has been unofficially handed over to the country's Provisional Electoral Council.
• Jan 17, 2011: Haiti waits for election decision, BBC News (2011) This article reports on the latest updates from Haiti. The Haitian government and international experts are discussing what to do about the disputed presidential elections. Last week, a team of experts from the Organization of American States presented its report on the election. Even though the results have not been released yet, the report might change the final results of the election.
• Jan 12, 2011: International monitors to recommend elimination of presidential candidate in Haiti runoff election, VOA News (2011) This article discusses the conclusions of the report from the Organization of American States. The document is not public yet, but the conclusions probably recommend to eliminate the government-backed presidential candidate, Jude Celestine, from the runoff election. After news of this leaked report, demonstrators gathered in the streets of Port au Prince to demand the resignation of the Election Commission.
• Jan 12, 2011: Haiti: First an earthquake, then a fraudulent election, The Wall Street Journal (2011) This article, written by diplomat and former Haitian ambassador in the US, discusses the many challenges and issues that Haiti had to face in the past year since the earthquake. The author was disqualified as a candidate by the Provisional Electoral Council, and this decision - he argues - has no specific legal or technical justification. According to the author, it is too important for Haiti and its reconstruction to have a representative and legitimate government, and the country should therefore be hold new elections.
• Jan 11, 2011: OAS to give Haiti presidential election verdict, BBC News (2011) This article discusses the outcomes of the report of the team of the Organization of American States which reviewed the results of the disputed November elections in Haiti. The report will be released shortly, but apparently the recommendations are already known:the 10 experts found strong evidence of fraud, but decided not to annul the election and determined that Michel Martelly won more votes than Jude Celestin. Mr Martelly should therefore compete with Mirlande Manigat in the runoff.
• Jan 11, 2011: OAS experts challenge Haiti election result: report, Reuters (2011) This article discusses the report drafted by the experts of the Organization of American States regarding the November elections in Haiti. The Associated Press obtained a copy of the document (which is not public yet) and revealed that the report challenges the preliminary results of the elections.
• Jan 11, 2011: Haiti: Election Report Would Change Runoff Ballot, The New York Times (2011) This article reports on the conclusions of the team of election experts that examined the results of the presidential election in Haiti. The team of the Organization of American States drafted a report that will be released shortly, but the conclusions are already public: the elections will not be invalidated, but the ruling party's candidate, Jude Célestin, will not compete in the second round.
• Jan 05, 2011: Haiti: Election runoff delayed, The New York Times (2011) This article reports on the postponement of the presidential runoff in Haiti. The electoral authorities decided not to hold the election before February, as the country is waiting for a report of the Organization of American States reviewing the results of the November elections. The director general of Haiti’s Provisional Electoral Council stated that the runoff will be held one month after the final results have been announced.
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