Michèle Alliot-Marie, during a hearing before the commission of the Foreign affairs of the National Assembly in Paris, evoked in order to find an exit with the political crisis which prevails in Haiti, the possibility that the second round of election is open to three presidential candidates (Mirlande Manigat, Jude Célestin and Michel Martelly) and not two as originally planned "It would appear that legally it would be possible to have an expanded number of candidates"(1) at the second round. A position previously issued in diplomatic circles.

But she flatly rejected the proposal made by the candidate Michel Martelly to hold a new election in January with the 18 candidates "It is essential that we manage to hold the election on 16 January under undeniable conditions" said the minister.

Bernard Valero, spokesman for the minister had said earlier that "the current priorities were the verification of minutes, and, for candidates the use of their right of appeal with the Office of litigation of the Provisional Electoral Council, pursuant to the Haitian Constitution".

Final results (and/or solution to resolve the crisis) should be announced this December 20.

(1) Article 40.1 of the Electoral Law provides, in effect, the possibility of a second round with more than 2 candidates. The article states "if there is a tie between candidates who obtained the greatest number of votes in the first round, they all participate in the second round". This notion of equality seems to be interpreted as "very similar results between two or more candidates" because, contrary to article 42, there is no mention of "perfect equality", so the CEP can probably use this compromise option.

Article 40.1

If this majority is not obtained on the first ballot, there shall be a second round within the time fixed by the Permanent Electoral Council. The two (2) candidates receiving in the first round the largest number of votes may go to the second round. However, if there is a tie between candidates who obtained the greatest number of votes in the first round, they all participate in the second round.

Article 42

In the second round in case of perfect equality between the candidates, the elected is the one who had the highest number of votes in the first round.

See also:

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-1903-haiti-elections-the-diplomats-are-discussing-of-plans-b.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-1917-haiti-elections-michel-martelly-proposes-a-way-out-of-crisis.html

BF/ HaitiLibre