Haitian elections, 2005

From Freepedia

(Redirected from 2005 Haitian Elections)

This article documents a current event.
Information may change rapidly as the event progresses.

This article or section contains information about an upcoming election.
It is likely to contain information of a speculative nature and the content about candidates may change dramatically as the election approaches and more information becomes available.

Image:Haiti flag large.png

Politics of Haiti

Politics of Haiti
Political parties in Haiti
Elections in Haiti: 2005

^edit

Politics Portal
Politics (by country)
State leaders - Legislatures
Elections by country - by calendar
Parties by country - by name

The 2005 elections in Haiti were originally scheduled to take place starting on October 9 with the municipal election, followed by national elections on November 13, and a second round in December 18. Later the municipal elections were postponed until after the national elections at an undetermined date in late December. On September 7 2005 the dates were again changed. The first round of voting for the presidential race is to take place on November 20 2005 and the second round on January 3 2006. The municipal elections have been set for December 11 2005. This is the third set of dates of elections for a new government since July, due to concerns over security and registration. The plans to hand over power to the elected government on February 7 2006 have not changed.

1 Reasons for the delay
2 Controversy surrounding potential boycotts
3 Potential presidential candidates
- 3.1 Full List of Presidential Candidates as of 15 September

Reasons for the delay

There are many reasons the Haitian elections have had to be delayed. Due to a lack of funding, they were not able to meet the voter registration deadline set for early August. In addition there is considerable unrest in parts of Haiti, particularly the Port-au-Prince slums where some pro-Aristide forces have been behind resistance attacks on the new government. However, the inability to register voters in the time allocated seems to be the primary reason for the extensions. As of August, only about 1.5 million, or a quarter of eligible voters, had registered. Progress has been made in the month since, however, and as of September 2 700,000 or about half of eligible voters have been registered.

Controversy surrounding potential boycotts

Some members of the Lavalas party have threatened to boycott the elections, should some demands not be met. Particularly they want the release of Jean-Juste, a party leader, charged with the murder of Jacques Roche a popular Haitian journalist. The party is currently divided on ideological grounds; those more supportive of Aristide are the ones behind the boycott, the more moderate wing still wants to participate in elections.

Potential presidential candidates

Among the more known figures at René Préval, a former Lavalas member, Guy Philippe, a former police chief and rebel leader of the 2004 Haiti Rebellion, the recently released Gerard Jean-Juste of the Lavalas party and Dumarsais Simeus, a Haitian American industrialist.