Haiti: Privert decrees Oct. 9 as presidential elections date

Interim Haiti President Jocelerme Privert insists country cannot miss another elections deadline.

Haiti’s interim president Jolocerme Privert in a decree, has urged the country’s 5.8 million voters to participate in the October 9 elections to vote for a new president.

Privert made the announcement Tuesday as part of a cabinet meeting during which his decree was widely debated among ministers.

“Under no circumstances can we miss the deadline,” Privert insisted, calling the October 9 elections “a key event for the country’s political future.”

Under the recommendations of the Provisional Electoral Council, the October elections will feature a redo of last year’s contested presidential first round with 27 candidates, and run-offs for dozens of legislative seats. Elections for one-tier of the 30-member Senate will also take place.

Privert’s move is a controversial one. His 120-day term as provisional president expired on June 14 under a February political accord that he helped negotiate with former President Michel Martelly. Martelly’s 5-year presidential term ended on February 7 without an elected successor and with Haiti in the hands of its second caretaker government in 12 years.

Some critics argue that Privert is no longer president and lacks the power to convene voters. Others say because Parliament has failed to vote on whether to end or extend his term, Privert remains in office. While he has missed all of the deadlines under the accord, including an April 24 presidential runoff, the overall goal of electing a democratically elected government in Haiti has not yet happened, supporters argue.

Under the country’s electoral law, only a president can convene voters to the polls. Privert met with elections officials Tuesday along with the heads of the Office of National Identification and Haiti National Police to discuss voter registration and elections security.

Jolocerme Privert does not intend to run in the October 9 elections.