Haiti protesters stoke political crisis while powers seek consensus

Stone-throwing protesters stoked Haiti’s political crisis on Saturday, a day after they forced the Caribbean nation to call off a presidential election and despite calls for consensus from global powers. Haiti was due to choose a replacement for President Michel Martelly in a runoff vote on Sunday, but the two-man race was postponed indefinitely after opposition candidate Jude Celestin refused to participate on alleged fraud that spread anti-government protests and violence nationally. Martelly says the fraud claims are unfounded but critics believe he unfairly favoured his chosen successor, banana exporter Jovenel Moise, and some are demanding that Haiti, the poorest country in the Western hemisphere, start its $100 million election again from scratch.

We want a transitional government to set up an investigation commission that will determine the sincerity of the elections.

Volcy Assad, a protest leader

Second-place Celestin, on the other hand, is likely to want to maintain his advantage and quickly organise a clean runoff vote. "We are very encouraged by the decision to postpone the election. We hope that everything will be put in place to have credible elections as soon as possible,“ campaign manager Gerald Germain told Reuters. Opposition leaders of all stripes said the protests would continue.

Haiti