PORT AU PRINCE, Haiti (CMC) – With just a few weeks before Haitians go to the polls to elect a new parliament, there are reports of violence, the withdrawal of candidates and the National Identification Office (ONI) reminding citizens to ensure that they collect their documents ahead of the August 9 poll.
Over the weekend, Germain Fils Alexandre, who is contesting the position of deputy of Petit-Goâve under the VERITE banner, said he and his team were attacked and accuses his opponent, Jacques Stevenson Thimoléon, from the PHTK Party of organising the violence.
He said he was campaigning in Allègue, a locality in the 10th section of Palmes, when “my team and I were attacked by Thimoléon and its supporters on the road of Palmes”.
He said his vehicles were stoned and damaged and some supporters were also injured.
Thimoleon has not responded as yet to the allegations, but VERITE said that it was demanding justice and calling on the police to investigate the situation in order for there to be peaceful elections in Petit-Goâve.
Meanwhile, Getheau Lindor, a candidate for the Konvansyon Inite Demokratik (KID) party, who is also seeking to become deputy of Petit-Goâve, has announced his withdrawal from the race.
Lindor, speaking on Radio Preference FM on Sunday said he will officially write to the Electoral Council outlining his position and supporting Frederic Beneche, the candidate of the Renmen Ayiti party.
“I am no longer a candidate for deputy of Petit-Goâve under the banner of KID. I decided to give up. I will soon write to the CEP to inform it of my decision. I support Frederic Beneche, deputy candidate of Petit-Goâve and I urge my supporters to vote for him,” Lindor said.
“I consider he’s extremely competent and meets all the qualities needed to be a good parliamentarian,” he added.
The ONI said it was also reminding citizens, who have been registered before May 11, 2015, to ensure that they collect their National Identification Card (CIN) at its offices across the country immediately.
More than 5.8 million people have been registered to vote in the elections. The first round of the elections will begin on August 9 for a new parliament with more than 2,000 candidates.
The first round of the presidential election is October 25. If no candidate wins outright there will be a runoff on December 27.
Of the 70 candidates who registered to run, 23 were challenged on legal grounds.