Haitian Electoral Expertise: Accomplishments and Challenges

1. Haitian Electoral Expertise: Accomplishments and Challenges Presentation by James Morrell Director, Haiti Democracy Project At the panel discussion “Haiti Election and Leadership” October 14, 2010 · Johns Hopkins University Presentation dedicated to the memory of Micha Gaillard, Haitian political visionary who perished January 12, 2010

2. Haiti Succeeds in 2006 • Big turnout, fair count • Pluralistic candidates and results • Reasons: • Regime neutral, could not run its own candidates • U.S. insistence on appointing competent administrator

3. A Fatal Foreign Flaw • One candidate got 47 percent of the vote • He cried fraud and called mobs onto the street • Foreign embassies, seeking closure, pressed electoral board to count blank votes to put candidate over the top • A display of partisanship that would have lasting consequences

4. Consequences Appear • In October 2007, a delegation of five Haitian senators warned of delayed elections • Nothing was done. Another delegation went in May 2008 • Flawed elections finally held April 2009

5. “Que faire?” • Serge Gilles, Fusion Party of Social Democrats: “Que faire quand on a la désagréable sensation que les jeux sont faits avant même le début de la compétition?” • What to do when you have the disagreeable sensation that the results are in before the game even begins?

6. Aftermath of Earthquake • André Lafontant Joseph, March 21, 2010: • Haiti unready for elections now. But . . .

7. Follow the Spirit • “ . . . we can reach a political consensus which follows the spirit of the constitution in turning to the Supreme Court. • “This provisional government’s mandate would be above all to organize elections. • “Up to now, the transition governments have all succeeded in holding acceptable elections.”

8. Foreigners Decree Otherwise • U.N. mission chief Edmond Mulet sets November 28, 2010 as election day • President Préval agreeable as he can control outcome • Sudden foreign insistence on electoral calendar comes ill after their indifference to delays 2007-2009 • Micha Gaillard: Foreign position is “blind and ostrich-like.”

9. Foreign Intervention • Democratic sector decries electoral board’s subservience to Préval • OAS declares board valid and qualified • Haitians call for constitutionally-required audit of previous officials • U.N. says dispense with audit

10. “Stability” • U.S. policy seeks stability by supporting the personality in power • An intervention both illicit and misguided, as it won’t bring the coveted stability • Micha Gaillard: Haiti’s political leaders “won’t accept electoral masquerades that exclude them from the scene for years to come.”

11. Recommendations • Hew to strict neutrality in Haitian political affairs • Fund no elections below the standard of 2006 • Stop clinging to the personality in power • Let change happen • “The Haitian people are thirsty for change” —Rev. Edouard Paultre

12. Strategy for National Salvation • Haiti has in its civil society, political parties, business sector, grassroots, and diaspora the personnel capable of modernizing the country

13. Conference for National Salvation

14. Leadership • “Representatives of the Haitian intellectual, social, political and business worlds have come together in Santo Domingo during August 28–30, 2009 in an exercise of progressive spirit and a discarding of past differences. • “They commit to assault the traditional bastions of irresponsibility, incompetence, corruption, nepotism, and inhumanity which have blocked the evolution of the Haitian nation for the past fifty years.”