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| U.S. Presses for Haiti Runoff Vote Amid Fears of Violence and Fraud | U.S. Presses for Haiti Runoff Vote Amid Fears of Violence and Fraud |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti — After spending more than $33 million on a widely discredited election in Haiti, the United States has been pressing the country’s leaders to go ahead with a presidential runoff election this Sunday, despite a growing chorus of warnings that the vote could lead to an explosion of violence. | |
| Haitian leaders, political parties and others have denounced the first round of voting in October as a fraud-riddled fiasco and protested in the streets to stop the runoff. One of the two remaining candidates says he is boycotting, effectively making it a one-person race. | Haitian leaders, political parties and others have denounced the first round of voting in October as a fraud-riddled fiasco and protested in the streets to stop the runoff. One of the two remaining candidates says he is boycotting, effectively making it a one-person race. |
| President Michel J. Martelly took to the airwaves on Thursday to warn that protests on Election Day would not be tolerated. Civic, business and religious leaders are engaged in tense back-room negotiations to broker a deal in an effort to avoid violence and put off the race. Eight election observer organizations have pulled out over the fraud accusations and chaos, including a Haitian group funded by the United States. | President Michel J. Martelly took to the airwaves on Thursday to warn that protests on Election Day would not be tolerated. Civic, business and religious leaders are engaged in tense back-room negotiations to broker a deal in an effort to avoid violence and put off the race. Eight election observer organizations have pulled out over the fraud accusations and chaos, including a Haitian group funded by the United States. |
| But the Obama administration — which spent the money to help ensure “credible, inclusive, and legitimate” elections here — has emerged as a central force, pressing Haitian politicians to move forward with the vote, however flawed the first round may have been. | But the Obama administration — which spent the money to help ensure “credible, inclusive, and legitimate” elections here — has emerged as a central force, pressing Haitian politicians to move forward with the vote, however flawed the first round may have been. |
| “The way American diplomats are supporting the election, is it because they don’t want to lose that $33 million?” said Gédéon Jean, a human rights lawyer who sat on a special commission appointed to review the October election. | “The way American diplomats are supporting the election, is it because they don’t want to lose that $33 million?” said Gédéon Jean, a human rights lawyer who sat on a special commission appointed to review the October election. |
| Fearing a power vacuum if a president is not chosen, and convinced that the accusations of widespread fraud were exaggerated, the United States and other international partners say that going to the polls is essential to preserving democratic order. | Fearing a power vacuum if a president is not chosen, and convinced that the accusations of widespread fraud were exaggerated, the United States and other international partners say that going to the polls is essential to preserving democratic order. |
| “Proceeding with the electoral calendar as provided by the Haitian Constitution will avoid going into an extra-constitutional, de-facto government leadership crisis,” said Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Kenneth H. Merten, who serves as a special coordinator for Haiti. | “Proceeding with the electoral calendar as provided by the Haitian Constitution will avoid going into an extra-constitutional, de-facto government leadership crisis,” said Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Kenneth H. Merten, who serves as a special coordinator for Haiti. |
| The Obama administration’s response is a sharp contrast to the position it took in 2010, when the United States was so appalled by rampant fraud that Hillary Clinton, the secretary of state at the time, flew to Haiti to pressure its leaders to change the results. Mr. Martelly was bumped up in the election results so that he could compete in a runoff. | The Obama administration’s response is a sharp contrast to the position it took in 2010, when the United States was so appalled by rampant fraud that Hillary Clinton, the secretary of state at the time, flew to Haiti to pressure its leaders to change the results. Mr. Martelly was bumped up in the election results so that he could compete in a runoff. |
| “The hypocrisy from 2010 to 2015 is pretty remarkable,” said Jake Johnston, a researcher at the Center for Economic and Policy Research in Washington. “For the elections, a $30 million budget just from the U.S. and the likelihood of a government that is at least seen as illegitimate has to qualify as a waste.” | “The hypocrisy from 2010 to 2015 is pretty remarkable,” said Jake Johnston, a researcher at the Center for Economic and Policy Research in Washington. “For the elections, a $30 million budget just from the U.S. and the likelihood of a government that is at least seen as illegitimate has to qualify as a waste.” |
| The outsize international role in Haitian elections — with millions spent on everything from public service campaigns and police cars to efforts to get more women to run and disabled people to vote — underscores the difficulties in rebuilding democracy in a nation long torn by dictatorship, corruption and political infighting. | The outsize international role in Haitian elections — with millions spent on everything from public service campaigns and police cars to efforts to get more women to run and disabled people to vote — underscores the difficulties in rebuilding democracy in a nation long torn by dictatorship, corruption and political infighting. |
| The elections have been such an enormous undertaking because hundreds of elected posts were vacant around the country. Haiti had gone several years without any elections because of caustic political battles, leaving Mr. Martelly to rule by decree. | The elections have been such an enormous undertaking because hundreds of elected posts were vacant around the country. Haiti had gone several years without any elections because of caustic political battles, leaving Mr. Martelly to rule by decree. |
| The first round of legislative elections took place in August, but the police stood by as armed thugs disrupted polling stations. Officers and protesters alike used firearms and tear gas to disperse voters and to allow for ballot-stuffing, according to a report by the National Human Rights Defense Network, a leading civil rights group here. | The first round of legislative elections took place in August, but the police stood by as armed thugs disrupted polling stations. Officers and protesters alike used firearms and tear gas to disperse voters and to allow for ballot-stuffing, according to a report by the National Human Rights Defense Network, a leading civil rights group here. |
| A legislative runoff was held two months later, together with a presidential race featuring 54 candidates. To help keep an eye on polling stations, the country’s provisional electoral council accredited political party monitors, allowing them to cast ballots outside their normal precincts. | A legislative runoff was held two months later, together with a presidential race featuring 54 candidates. To help keep an eye on polling stations, the country’s provisional electoral council accredited political party monitors, allowing them to cast ballots outside their normal precincts. |
| The result was a free-for-all, human rights groups say. Accreditations were sold and photocopied, allowing party monitors to vote in multiple polling centers. | The result was a free-for-all, human rights groups say. Accreditations were sold and photocopied, allowing party monitors to vote in multiple polling centers. |
| “I saw two teams enter polling stations in shifts, and I saw each team vote twice,” said Édouard Paultre, an election observer for the Council on Haitian Non-State Organizations. “I am convinced the system was established to facilitate fraud.” | “I saw two teams enter polling stations in shifts, and I saw each team vote twice,” said Édouard Paultre, an election observer for the Council on Haitian Non-State Organizations. “I am convinced the system was established to facilitate fraud.” |
| Some 900,000 accreditations were distributed, and only 1.5 million people voted nationwide, which means party operatives cast a tremendous share of the ballots. | Some 900,000 accreditations were distributed, and only 1.5 million people voted nationwide, which means party operatives cast a tremendous share of the ballots. |
| Maxime J. Rony, a lawyer hired by a local bar association to represent indigent residents who were arrested on Election Day in October, said he had interviewed jailed election monitors who were members of the governing party but were caught with multiple accreditations from different political parties. Mr. Rony was stunned when many of his clients called influential politicians for help paying the $175 fine, a fortune for most Haitians. | Maxime J. Rony, a lawyer hired by a local bar association to represent indigent residents who were arrested on Election Day in October, said he had interviewed jailed election monitors who were members of the governing party but were caught with multiple accreditations from different political parties. Mr. Rony was stunned when many of his clients called influential politicians for help paying the $175 fine, a fortune for most Haitians. |
| “They voted more than once, and they all quickly paid their fines and were released from jail, all of them,” Mr. Rony said. | “They voted more than once, and they all quickly paid their fines and were released from jail, all of them,” Mr. Rony said. |
| Jovenel Moïse, a virtual unknown who is Mr. Martelly’s handpicked successor, officially came in first with 32.8 percent of the vote. | Jovenel Moïse, a virtual unknown who is Mr. Martelly’s handpicked successor, officially came in first with 32.8 percent of the vote. |
| Jude Célestin, a former government official who was ousted from the 2010 race after election fraud, came in second with 25 percent. | Jude Célestin, a former government official who was ousted from the 2010 race after election fraud, came in second with 25 percent. |
| The losing candidates said they failed to win a majority even in their own strongholds. | The losing candidates said they failed to win a majority even in their own strongholds. |
| “I don’t really know who came in first or 54th,” said Edmonde Supplice Beauzile, a presidential candidate who boycotted the October vote after the violence in August. | “I don’t really know who came in first or 54th,” said Edmonde Supplice Beauzile, a presidential candidate who boycotted the October vote after the violence in August. |
| One legislative candidate, Gerald Jean, even kept receipts for all the bribes he paid. | One legislative candidate, Gerald Jean, even kept receipts for all the bribes he paid. |
| When a rival candidate challenged his victory at the polls, Mr. Jean said, members of the country’s top electoral tribunal started demanding bribes. | When a rival candidate challenged his victory at the polls, Mr. Jean said, members of the country’s top electoral tribunal started demanding bribes. |
| The extortion tab came to $24,900, he said, but the judges ruled against him anyway when another bidder paid more. So Mr. Jean went public with bank deposit slips to prove it, causing a national scandal that led two election officials to step down. | The extortion tab came to $24,900, he said, but the judges ruled against him anyway when another bidder paid more. So Mr. Jean went public with bank deposit slips to prove it, causing a national scandal that led two election officials to step down. |
| “Those elections were garbage,” Mr. Jean said. | “Those elections were garbage,” Mr. Jean said. |
| A government commission assigned to review the election examined a sample of the tally sheets and found that only 8 percent were free of errors. Thirty percent showed voters who did not appear on voter lists, and nearly half the sheets featured voters who presented an incorrect voter ID number. | A government commission assigned to review the election examined a sample of the tally sheets and found that only 8 percent were free of errors. Thirty percent showed voters who did not appear on voter lists, and nearly half the sheets featured voters who presented an incorrect voter ID number. |
| The Organization of American States, which said it had conducted a robust scientific quick-count method to assess the ballots, endorsed the outcome. | The Organization of American States, which said it had conducted a robust scientific quick-count method to assess the ballots, endorsed the outcome. |
| “We reached the conclusion that despite the irregularities, and despite the fact that the process could be significantly better, the results of the two people who passed to the second round would not change,” said Gerardo de Icaza, the O.A.S. director of the Department of Electoral Cooperation and Observation. | “We reached the conclusion that despite the irregularities, and despite the fact that the process could be significantly better, the results of the two people who passed to the second round would not change,” said Gerardo de Icaza, the O.A.S. director of the Department of Electoral Cooperation and Observation. |
| An American official who monitored the race said the United States paid for 1,700 observers who did not see the problems the Haitian civil rights groups cited. | An American official who monitored the race said the United States paid for 1,700 observers who did not see the problems the Haitian civil rights groups cited. |
| “We are not saying that it didn’t take place, just that we didn’t see it ourselves,” said the official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity. “When we ask how it’s possible for our 1,700 people to miss that, the answer was ‘You guys missed it.’ O.K., Do you have proof? Do you have pictures of this stuff being done?” | “We are not saying that it didn’t take place, just that we didn’t see it ourselves,” said the official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity. “When we ask how it’s possible for our 1,700 people to miss that, the answer was ‘You guys missed it.’ O.K., Do you have proof? Do you have pictures of this stuff being done?” |
| American diplomats have been widely criticized here, though, because they went on Haitian radio to support the October election while the verification commission was still at work. Then the national election board announced a Jan. 24 election date as top State Department officials visited Haiti. | American diplomats have been widely criticized here, though, because they went on Haitian radio to support the October election while the verification commission was still at work. Then the national election board announced a Jan. 24 election date as top State Department officials visited Haiti. |
| Some experts wondered whether American officials were worried about being called before Congress to testify about the money spent on such a flawed process. | Some experts wondered whether American officials were worried about being called before Congress to testify about the money spent on such a flawed process. |
| The United States spent millions on portable tower lights and vehicle repairs, and donated some $17 million to the United Nations funds that help produce the election. | The United States spent millions on portable tower lights and vehicle repairs, and donated some $17 million to the United Nations funds that help produce the election. |
| Many international observers noted that the polling stations were well equipped, started on time and were largely peaceful in the first round of voting for president. | Many international observers noted that the polling stations were well equipped, started on time and were largely peaceful in the first round of voting for president. |
| Haiti is still struggling to rebuild its toppled capital and an unstable democracy. The United States has spent $3.5 billion in Haiti since a devastating earthquake six years ago, and promised nearly $1 billion more. | Haiti is still struggling to rebuild its toppled capital and an unstable democracy. The United States has spent $3.5 billion in Haiti since a devastating earthquake six years ago, and promised nearly $1 billion more. |
| Now that Mr. Célestin is boycotting the runoff, he says various American diplomats have met with him at least a dozen times, encouraging him to participate in the race because they are concerned that the current president’s mandate will expire Feb. 7 without a replacement, causing a power vacuum. | Now that Mr. Célestin is boycotting the runoff, he says various American diplomats have met with him at least a dozen times, encouraging him to participate in the race because they are concerned that the current president’s mandate will expire Feb. 7 without a replacement, causing a power vacuum. |
| The opposition here has called for a transitional government, something experts believe is unconstitutional. | The opposition here has called for a transitional government, something experts believe is unconstitutional. |
| The race has already been postponed once. | The race has already been postponed once. |
| Others believe that if Mr. Moïse wins an election widely viewed as rigged, he will face a lack of legitimacy that would most likely result in violence. | Others believe that if Mr. Moïse wins an election widely viewed as rigged, he will face a lack of legitimacy that would most likely result in violence. |
| “I want to go to an election but not under these conditions,” Mr. Célestin said. “I want to go to an election, not a selection.” | “I want to go to an election but not under these conditions,” Mr. Célestin said. “I want to go to an election, not a selection.” |
| The governing party candidate believes the fraud accusations were overblown and that the public’s appetite for the election is still strong. | The governing party candidate believes the fraud accusations were overblown and that the public’s appetite for the election is still strong. |
| “I believe we will have a lot of voters that day,” Mr. Moïse said. “It’s democracy.” | “I believe we will have a lot of voters that day,” Mr. Moïse said. “It’s democracy.” |