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| Haiti Postpones Presidential Runoff Vote | Haiti Postpones Presidential Runoff Vote |
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| PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti — A runoff election to choose the next president of Haiti was postponed on Friday less than 48 hours before it was to take place, as protesters who expected a rigged outcome began to block roads and burn voting centers. | |
| Haiti, the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere, has been stuck in an election-related political impasse since October, when 54 candidates ran for president in a race that opposition leaders and human rights groups said was mired in fraud. | Haiti, the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere, has been stuck in an election-related political impasse since October, when 54 candidates ran for president in a race that opposition leaders and human rights groups said was mired in fraud. |
| The current president’s handpicked successor, Jovenel Moïse, a banana exporter who was virtually unknown in Haiti, officially came in first with 32.8 percent of the vote. Jude Célestin, a former state construction company official who was ousted from the 2010 race after election fraud, came in second with 25 percent. | The current president’s handpicked successor, Jovenel Moïse, a banana exporter who was virtually unknown in Haiti, officially came in first with 32.8 percent of the vote. Jude Célestin, a former state construction company official who was ousted from the 2010 race after election fraud, came in second with 25 percent. |
| “Today is a victory for the democratic sector in Haiti and Haitians everywhere who are struggling for true democracy, good governance and an end to corrupt practices,” Mr. Célestin said through a spokesman. | |
| Mr. Moïse’s spokeswoman said he was in meetings and was not available for comment. | |
| The United States and the Organization of American States said its observers showed the results of the race appeared accurate, despite the problems with the first round of voting. The president, Michel J. Martelly, insisted that opposition groups had exaggerated claims of fraud for political purposes. On Thursday night, he addressed the nation to encourage citizens to vote. | The United States and the Organization of American States said its observers showed the results of the race appeared accurate, despite the problems with the first round of voting. The president, Michel J. Martelly, insisted that opposition groups had exaggerated claims of fraud for political purposes. On Thursday night, he addressed the nation to encourage citizens to vote. |
| The race originally had been scheduled for late December, but was postponed to January so that an electoral commission could examine a portion of the tally sheets. The commission showed sloppy errors and troubling signs — such as voters who lacked an electoral ID number — in a vast majority of the sheets. | The race originally had been scheduled for late December, but was postponed to January so that an electoral commission could examine a portion of the tally sheets. The commission showed sloppy errors and troubling signs — such as voters who lacked an electoral ID number — in a vast majority of the sheets. |
| On Friday, protesters in the capital marched in the streets promising an increase in violence and vowing that “guns would become legal” by 6 p.m. Many demonstrators demanded the president’s resignation. | On Friday, protesters in the capital marched in the streets promising an increase in violence and vowing that “guns would become legal” by 6 p.m. Many demonstrators demanded the president’s resignation. |
| In Delmas 75, a sprawling and gritty Port-au-Prince neighborhood, one man proudly displayed bullets to the growing crowd, holding three in his mouth and two in his raised arms. | |
| “Today the situation went beyond control,” said Simon Desras, a former senator. “They were planning to organize an election for one candidate: Jovenel running against Mr. Jovenel.” | “Today the situation went beyond control,” said Simon Desras, a former senator. “They were planning to organize an election for one candidate: Jovenel running against Mr. Jovenel.” |
| The electoral council did not announce a date for the new election or explain what steps would be taken after Feb. 7, when the current president’s mandate ends. The political parties could not reach a compromise on who would take over after Feb. 7 in a situation the United States had described as unconstitutional and “de facto.” | The electoral council did not announce a date for the new election or explain what steps would be taken after Feb. 7, when the current president’s mandate ends. The political parties could not reach a compromise on who would take over after Feb. 7 in a situation the United States had described as unconstitutional and “de facto.” |
| “This is the time for all sectors to come with an agreement that allows the process to go forward and to have a new president elected freely and fairly,” said Reginald Boulos, president of the National Chamber of Commerce and Industry. | “This is the time for all sectors to come with an agreement that allows the process to go forward and to have a new president elected freely and fairly,” said Reginald Boulos, president of the National Chamber of Commerce and Industry. |
| “The president and the Parliament have to show that Haitians can find a solution without outside intervention.” | “The president and the Parliament have to show that Haitians can find a solution without outside intervention.” |