PORT-AU-PRINCE, (Reuters) – Provisional Haiti President Jocelerme Privert said yesterday a new election council would determine if a delayed runoff could be held by an April deadline, as concerns grow that a political standoff would again scupper efforts to hold the vote.
Privert took office last month for a 120-day term after a botched runoff vote meant former President Michel Martelly left office without a replacement. Martelly’s party accuses Privert of bias in favor of the left-wing Fanmi Lavalas movement.
The election has already been delayed three times over allegations of fraud in the first round, and Privert called on opponents to support his efforts to quickly hand power to an elected successor.
Privert said he was doing everything he could to ensure the transfer of power happened within a time frame agreed in February, but details would be decided by the still-unformed election council.
