Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Port au Prince (Agenzia Fides) - Presidential elections were held yesterday in Haiti in a peaceful manner except for a few isolated incidents. The results will not be known before a week. More than 6 million Haitians were called to the polls to choose between 27 presidential candidates, after the cancellation of the 2015 October elections for alleged irregularities and the postponement of those imposed on 9 October because of the emergency caused by hurricane Matthew.
Since February 15, 2016 Haiti has been led by interim president, Jocelerme Privert, who took office a week before the conclusion of the period of government of President Michel Martelly, as the political crisis had prevented the choice of his successor. The elections saw the presence of a team of experts and observers from 24 nations that the Organization of American States (OAS) deployed throughout the country.
The situation, however, in the country continues to be critical. The hurricane, which directly affected 1.4 million people in Haiti, has left about 800,000 people in need of food aid and also caused the displacement of 175,000, mainly in the South and Southwest departments of the country, the most affected areas (see Fides 08/10/2016). These very serious conditions in which the country finds itself may have determined an even lower turnout compared to last year's elections, in which less than 30% of those eligible voted. (CE) (Agenzia Fides 21/11/2016)
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