Haiti elections 2015: Opposition presidential candidates want changes to electoral system

A group of opposition presidential candidates has called for changes to the country’s electoral council and police hierarchy ahead of this month’s presidential runoff.

Led by presidential candidate Jude Célestin, the group – dubbed the G8 – made their demand in a communiqué issued late Sunday.

According to the group, there is need for a independent recount, a transition government and the scripting of a new constitution. “The G8 is convinced that honest, free, transparent and democratic elections cannot be obtained under the presidency of Joseph Michel Martelly without changes in the (Provisional Electoral Council), without changes in some units of the (Haiti National Police) and the command at departmental offices, and without the end of reprisals and repression by police against peaceful demonstrators,” the candidates wrote.

The group also called on Haitians “to continue to exercise their right to peacefully demonstrate to enforce their will and not to give into blackmail, intimidation and manipulation.”

The communiqué was issued after days of meetings and speculation about whether Célestin will go into the December 27 presidential runoff against government-backed candidate Jovenel Moise.

Since the release of the election results on October 25, thousands of protesters have taken to the streets amid allegations that the vote was plagued by fraud. The group has declared that, without major changes, fair elections will not be held while outgoing president Michel Martelly is in power .

Last week, the Provisional Electoral Council announced the start of the campaign period for the second round of the presidential elections , stating that it will end on December 22 – 5 days before the run-off poll on December 27. -(CMC)