The latest date that Haiti could hold its postponed presidential runoff to meet a constitutionally mandated hand-over of power deadline by outgoing President Michel Martelly is Jan. 17, Prime Minister Evans Paul said. But meeting that deadline will depend heavily on whether a five-member electoral evaluation commission is able to find a solution to break the political impasse, Paul acknowledged during a visit to South Florida over the weekend to attend the funeral of longtime friend and respected Haitian journalist Pharès Duverné. Duverné, who received political exile in South Florida in 2001 after fleeing Haiti amid attacks against journalists, died in an Orlando hospital on Dec. 13 of kidney failure.
“We’re hoping that… this commission will shed some light in order to permit the country to re-find its political equilibrium” to meet two fundamental, constitutionally mandated deadlines, Jan. 11 and Feb 7, Paul said.
On Jan. 11, Haiti is supposed to welcome its 50th Legislature, effectively ending a year of one-man rule by Martelly. Martelly, who legally cannot seek a second consecutive term, is required to hand over power to a successor on Feb. 7.
But on Monday, opposition groups, including an alliance of eight presidential candidates and Fanmi Lavalas presidential candidate Dr. Maryse Narcisse, continued to denounce the electoral commission.
Full Article: Haiti PM Evans Paul awaits elections report | Miami Herald.