Thousands of people aligned with the political opposition demonstrated in the Haitian capital on Wednesday against President Michel Martelly, accusing him of orchestrating an “electoral coup d’etat.”
The protest comes after seven presidential candidates called Monday for an independent investigation of initial vote results that determined Jovenel Moise, backed by Martelly, drew 32 percent of the ballots on October 25.
Moise will go into a runoff on December 27 against Jude Celestin, of the Lapeh party, who garnered 25 percent of the vote.
The election is the latest attempt in the Americas’ poorest country to shed chronic political instability and work toward development.
But Assad Volcy, spokesman for the Pitit Dessalines party, hit out at what he called an “electoral coup d’etat,” as the opposition rallied through Port-au-Prince.
“We do not trust the electoral courts and the CEP,” Volcy said, referring to the provisional electoral council.
“Our only recourse is the streets.”
The demonstration was attended by Maryse Narcisse, who is legally challenging the results of the poll.
“I’m here to accompany the Haitian people, who demand respect for their vote,” said Narcisse, who came fourth in the vote.
More protests by the opposition are expected to take place in the capital on Thursday and Friday.
The CEP is expected to announce final results of the first-round vote “in the next week,” a spokesman said.
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