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Haiti's Top Prez Contender Says Election Must Be Held To Confront Food Crisis

Dieu Nalio Chery
/
AP via Miami Herald
Haitian presidential candidate Jovenel Moise campaigning in Port-au-Prince in January.

Haiti still doesn’t have a real President. One is supposed to be elected next month  –  but don't hold your breath.

WLRN spoke today with the leading candidate, Jovenel Moïse, about whether that’s actually going to happen – and the consequences if it doesn’t, as Haiti's food crisis worsens.

Haiti’s presidential runoff election has been called off twice since December amid charges of electoral fraud. When President Michel Martelly left office last month, Haiti’s Congress chose a temporary president, JocelermePrivert.

Privert’s main job is to make sure the runoff is finally held on April 24 and a new president sworn in on May 14. But that’s not looking likely. Haiti meanwhile is suffering a severe drought.

“We are working hard to get the election on April 24  – we are trying to keep Mr. Privert on track," said Moïse, who is also an agricultural business owner, during a visit Florida International University in Miami. "But I’m very worried. It’s very important to have a constitutional government to start working to face this situation and grow food.”

Moïse also pledges to give Haitianexpatslike those in South Floridathe right to vote in future Haitian elections.

“We will work to integrate totally the diaspora," he said, "to participate in all the economic, social and political activities in Haiti.”

Moise’s runoff opponent is JudeCélestin.

Tim Padgett is the Americas Editor for WLRN, covering Latin America, the Caribbean and their key relationship with South Florida. Contact Tim at tpadgett@wlrnnews.org
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