The news in Haiti is filled with demonstrations, tire-burnings, and near-riots over the seeming inability of Haiti to elect a new president. A president serves one five-year term. Inauguration day should be February 7th, two weeks from now. That won’t happen.
With 56 candidates, a two-person runoff was assured. The first round was held October 25th. Either Jovenel Moïse or Jude Célestin would win the runoff on December 27th. But Célestin and other candidates charged election fraud, so the runoff was re-scheduled for January 24th.
During any election cycle in Haiti, emotions run high and there are frequent protests. This cycle is no different. In the age of cell phones and social media, organizing an on-the-spot-protest is easy. Sometimes, these protests become violent, but mostly they are people who feel legitimately aggrieved.
The organizers often burn four or five old tires placed across the road which of course, stops traffic and draws attention – the intended purposes. (One of my other blog posts talked of tire blow-outs and so tires are everywhere)! Lots of smoke, inconvenienced drivers, and sometimes anger and violence. It is a serious matter, and foreigners avoid them whenever possible.
Now the election commission has postponed the runoff once again. Protecting the people is more important than holding the runoff.
For Americans (used to long and peaceful election cycles), and Canadians (used to short, but equally peaceful ones) this process must seem strange. But, for the people of Haiti, presidential elections have become one of the rather poorly-functioning, but workable democratic institutions. Independent since 1804, but with a long history of government strife, democratic elections have worked, though haltingly, since the Duvaliers left power.
This post is not written to provide you with a detailed history or understanding of what is going in Haiti during this election cycle. Rather, I hope it provides you some perspective should you tire (as I do) of the constant barrage of news stories leading up to the US presidential election on November 8th.