Haiti: ex-President Aristide collapses while campaigning for Maryse Narcisse

Former Haitian President Jean-Bertrand Aristide fainted on stage at an election rally while campaigning for his Lavalas party’s presidential candidate, Maryse Narcisse, after his blood sugar levels fell, but was otherwise fine, a party official said.

Aides carried the 63-year-old Aristide offstage before driving him away from the event.

Leslie Voltaire, a top Narcisse advisor, said by telephone he was on his way to see Aristide, who had suffered an issue with his blood sugar levels.
“He was fine and he received sugar and candy,” he said.

Aristide was twice elected president of Haiti, in 1991 and 2001 and was ousted both times, most recently in 2004, when he went into exile in South Africa for 7 years.

He returned to Haiti in 2011 but had largely remained out of the public eye, although he ventured out to campaign for Narcisse in 2015 and this year.

Narcisse came fourth in a disputed presidential election last year, which was cancelled after electoral bodies concluded there was massive fraud.

A new general and presidential election is due to take place on October 9.

Source: Reuters