Haiti: ex-president Aristide endorses Maryse Narcisse for President

Aristide urges voters in Haiti to back Maryse Narcisse for president

Former Haitian president Jean-Bertrand Aristide made a rare public appearance to support Maryse Narcisse – his party’s presidential candidate.

“All of Haiti’s children must give a hand to help heal our country,” said Aristide.
Speaking in Creole with his signature use of metaphor, the former president said he and candidate Narcisse were “bringing the strength of our dignity.”

When he first returned to Haiti after his exile in South Africa, Aristide declared he had called it quits with politics. But in October last year, he urged supporters to back Famni Lavalas, his party’s candidate at the time.

Narcisse did not confirm to reporters that the ex-president would stay involved in her campaign.

During last year’s October 25 vote, ruling party candidate Jovenel Moise was first with 32.76 percent support. Narcisse landed in fourth place, with just 7.05 percent of the vote.

Challenged by the opposition after an independent commission concluded the vote had been plagued by “massive fraud,” the government annulled the results and called for a fresh presidential election.

Nearly 6.2 million voters are eligible to cast their ballots on October 9 in the first round of the presidential election as well as a legislative vote. The presidential election’s second round is scheduled for January 8.

Source: AFP