Democracy News

UN and US Express Concern Over Haiti’s Legislative Election Results
April 26, 2011
By: Carlos Aramayo | Printer Friendly

The United Nations (UN) and Haiti's major donor nations, including the United States (US), have voiced concern over allegations of fraud in final results of the country's legislative elections. According to Haiti's main benefactors – the US and European governments – reversals in 18 legislative races raised doubts about the legitimacy of the voting process.

The concerns coincided with violence in Haiti that left at least one person dead during protests held over the final election tally. A UN statement issued in Port-au-Prince on April 22 congratulated president-elect Michel Martelly on his victory but noted concerns over the final tally in legislative elections, which overturned 17 seats in the Chamber of Deputies and one in the Senate, Voice of America reports.

"The final results have therefore raised serious concern about the transparency and legitimacy of the process," said the statement released by the UN on behalf of the US, Brazil, Canada, Spain, France, the European Union and other major donors. Additionally, the statement reaffirmed that the UN and donor nations would "continue to stand with the people of Haiti" and urged all Haitians "to remain calm and work through peaceful means to address this issue."

On April 21, Martelly called for an independent probe into alleged fraud by outgoing President Rene Preval's ruling party during the legislative poll. On April 22, he urged the international community "not recognize" the results of the legislative elections, BBC News reports. "These results are unacceptable and don't reflect the will of the people," said a statement from Martelly's office.

The US voiced concern over alleged fraud in the legislative elections and said authorities must explain how some of the final results came to be reversed. "We have found no explanation for the reversals of 18 legislative races in the final results, which in all except two cases benefited the incumbent party," the US embassy in Port-Au-Prince said in a statement, furthermore the statement said it had reviewed official data from the Provisional Electoral Council (CEP), the UN and observers.

"The United States calls upon the government of Haiti and the (CEP) to provide a thorough, public explanation for the reversals in these 18 races" following the second-round legislative elections on March 20, it added. Adding that without a public explanation and a review by outside observers, "the legitimacy of seating these candidates is in question."

BBC News reports that Martelly won the presidential election after receiving a resounding 67.5 percent of the vote. It was later announced on April 21 that the United Party expanded its presence in the Chamber of Deputies, taking 46 of the 99 seats, and in the upper Senate, taking 17 of the 30 seats. On April 25, CEP said it would not publish 18 seats' results "out of concern for transparency," but did not say if there would be recount.

Martelly's fledgling Reypons Peysan party won only three parliamentary seats, and to enact the reforms Haiti needs, he will have to forge deals with the Unity Party. According to the US embassy’s statement, the discrepancies included a Unity Party candidate who placed third in the preliminary results, but finished first in the final results. Total votes in that race increased by 55,000 votes, from 90,000 votes in the preliminary results to 145,000 in the final results. Martelly was originally excluded from the run-off, finishing the first round of voting in third place, but he was later reinstated after significant pressure from the international community and street protests in Haiti. The modified results allowed Martelly to qualify in place of ruling party candidate Jude Celestin.

Voice of America also reports the US government has called on a joint electoral observation mission by the Organization of American States and Caribbean Community (CARICOM) to witness the documentation of the final results in the interest of transparency and fairness.

Martelly now faces the daunting task of rebuilding a Caribbean nation still trying to recover from a January 2010 earthquake that killed more than 225,000 people, displaced 1.5 million and left the capital in ruins. International donors are currently waiting for the new government to be formed before they release billions of dollars in aid.

For previous news on Haiti, please see:
Haitian Presidential Election Run-Off Deemed A Success 

Sources:
US Embassy in Haiti Press Release – Statement of the United States on the Final Results of the Second Round of the Elections in Haiti

Voice of America – UN Questions Legitimacy of Haitian Legislative Elections

BBC News – US seeks Haiti election explanation amid fraud concern