Haiti Prime Minister Laurent Lamothe Thursday vowed to hold long-delayed elections as soon as possible, implicitly confirming they will not take place later this month, as the US slammed political moves to block the vote.
"We are working very hard to organize these elections as soon as possible," Lamothe said as he met US Secretary of State John Kerry at the State Department, acknowledging the electoral law had yet to be passed.
"Everything is ready for the elections," Lamothe highlighted, saying financing and a security plan were in place. "We're missing one thing, which is the electoral law."
While the law had gone to Haiti's senate, it had been held up for the past seven months by two senators, Lamothe said. "It if was up to us we would have it (the elections) tomorrow."
Municipal and legislative elections had been due on October 26, and Kerry stressed they were needed "to complete the task of Haiti's transition."
"Unfortunately, that is being blocked now politically... we intend to try to work very closely to move forward," Kerry said.
"This resistance, this unwillingness to allow the people to be able to have this vote, really challenges the overall growth and development progress of the country."
Haitian President Michel Martelly decreed in June that there would be an election on October 26, but the National Assembly has not passed the electoral law and the provisional election commission is running out of time to organize a vote.
Polls have been delayed before -- these are three years late -- but if there is no vote soon, the mandates of most of the remaining members of the already depleted assembly will expire, creating a political vacuum.
Martelly has not formally called off the vote, but it seems improbable that any credible election can now be organized.
Legislators and the opposition are resisting attempts to hold a vote under rules they say have been rigged by Martelly's camp.
Kerry's meeting with Lamothe came just a few days after the death of former dictator Jean-Claude "Baby Doc" Duvalier.
Haiti Prime Minister Laurent Lamothe Thursday vowed to hold long-delayed elections as soon as possible, implicitly confirming they will not take place later this month, as the US slammed political moves to block the vote.
“We are working very hard to organize these elections as soon as possible,” Lamothe said as he met US Secretary of State John Kerry at the State Department, acknowledging the electoral law had yet to be passed.
“Everything is ready for the elections,” Lamothe highlighted, saying financing and a security plan were in place. “We’re missing one thing, which is the electoral law.”
While the law had gone to Haiti’s senate, it had been held up for the past seven months by two senators, Lamothe said. “It if was up to us we would have it (the elections) tomorrow.”
Municipal and legislative elections had been due on October 26, and Kerry stressed they were needed “to complete the task of Haiti’s transition.”
“Unfortunately, that is being blocked now politically… we intend to try to work very closely to move forward,” Kerry said.
“This resistance, this unwillingness to allow the people to be able to have this vote, really challenges the overall growth and development progress of the country.”
Haitian President Michel Martelly decreed in June that there would be an election on October 26, but the National Assembly has not passed the electoral law and the provisional election commission is running out of time to organize a vote.
Polls have been delayed before — these are three years late — but if there is no vote soon, the mandates of most of the remaining members of the already depleted assembly will expire, creating a political vacuum.
Martelly has not formally called off the vote, but it seems improbable that any credible election can now be organized.
Legislators and the opposition are resisting attempts to hold a vote under rules they say have been rigged by Martelly’s camp.
Kerry’s meeting with Lamothe came just a few days after the death of former dictator Jean-Claude “Baby Doc” Duvalier.
