- Title: Haiti's presidential candidates close campaigns ahead of Sunday's election
- Date: 19th November 2016
- Summary: PORT-AU-PRINCE, HAITI (NOVEMBER 18, 2016) (REUTERS) **** WARNING CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY **** LAPEH PARTY MEMBERS AT CLOSING CAMPAIGN RALLY LAPEH PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE JUDE CELESTIN GREETING SUPPORTERS PARTY MEMBERS AT RALLY (SOUNDBITE) (Creole) JUDE CELESTIN, LAPEH PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE, SAYING: "We agree with the elections. We are waiting patiently but we are keeping our eyes open to see how these elections will go." VARIOUS OF CAMPAIGN POSTERS FOR CELESTIN VARIOUS OF CAMPAIGN POSTERS FOR PHTK PARTY CANDIDATE JOVENEL MOISE (SOUNDBITE) (Creole) JOVENEL MOISE, PHTK PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE, SAYING: "Once we get into office, we will work with all the country's economic and social sectors so that the people can get jobs." MOISE CAMPAIGN POSTER UNITED NATIONS MILITARY VEHICLES DRIVING DOWN STREET CAMPAIGN POSTERS ON FENCE WITH HAITIAN FLAG FLYING ABOVE FLAGS CAMPAIGN SIGN ON BILLBOARD SIGN AND FLAG CARS DRIVING DOWN STREET WITH CAMPAIGN POSTER ON BILLBOARD
- Embargoed: 4th December 2016 06:19
- Keywords: Jovenel Moise Jude Celestin campaign closings
- Location: PORT-AU-PRINCE, HAITI
- City: PORT-AU-PRINCE, HAITI
- Country: Haiti
- Topics: Government/Politics,Elections/Voting
- Reuters ID: LVA001593YR0N
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text:Haiti's presidential candidates wrapped up their campaigns on Friday (November 18), ahead of Sunday's repeat first-round elections.
The long-delayed election is a repeat of the October 2015 vote which triggered months of street protests, as candidates decried the results.
PHTK candidate Jude Celestin, who won the second highest number of votes in that election, threatened to boycott the second round run-off.
The vote was eventually scrapped for widespread fraud and a repeat election was scheduled for April and then rescheduled for October.
Days before the October election was to take place, Hurricane Matthew hit Haiti, killing up to 1,000 people and leaving 1.4 million in need of humanitarian aid, with tens of thousands of victims packed into schools that would normally be used as polling centres.
Despite the damage in hard hit regions, the election was rescheduled for this Sunday. Electoral officials are under opposition pressure to show that interim President Jocelerme Privert, who was originally given a 120-mandate in office, is not trying to hold onto power.
At a rally in the capital city of Port-au-Prince, Celestin said he is glad the election will be held on Sunday but he and his supporters are monitoring to ensure there is no fraud.
"We agree with the elections. We are waiting patiently but we are keeping our eyes open to see how these elections will go," said Celestin.
In October's election, the candidate who won the most votes was ruling party candidate Jovenel Moise.
Activists and opposition candidates claimed the fraud had worked in Moise's favour, as he reportedly won almost 33% of the votes in that disputed election.
Moise is still confident he will win the most votes and says he will focus on job growth when he becomes the head of the Western Hemisphere's poorest country.
"Once we get into office, we will work with all the country's economic and social sectors so that the people can get jobs," he said.
Twenty-seven candidates are running in the first round and electoral officials have already announced they would publish results eight days after the election.
The second round vote between the two top candidates is scheduled for January 29. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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