Haiti ruling party withdraws controversial election candidate
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Haiti's ruling Inite (Unity) party says it has withdrawn its candidate, Jude Celestin, from the final run-off of the controversial Presidential election.
The announcement, made Wednesday, indicated the ruling party of outgoing President Rene Preval had agreed to implement the recommendation of the Organization of American States (OAS) that it pull its candidate out of the race.
But the announcement did not mean that the ruling party agreed that Celestin did not qualify for the final round of the Presidential vote.
"Even though we are certain Jude Celestin received the necessary number of votes and was therefore through to the second round, Inite [Unity] has agreed to withdraw his candidacy for the presidency," the party said in a statement.
The unexpected decision is widely seen as the President and his outgoing administration bowing to tremendous pressure from the United Nations (UN) and the United States (US), which had been insisting that the OAS' recommendation be accepted.
US Ambassador to the UN, Susan Rice, last week called on Preval to accept the OAS recommendations to allow the election to proceed, while the international community threatened to hold back on delivery of promised aid until a new government was chosen.
But even while the ruling party made the announcement of his withdrawal, Celestin has himself remained quiet – sparking a degree of initial uncertainty in Haiti as to whether he has agreed to stand down.
Unity official and former Haiti Senator, Joseph Lambert, told international reporters, "A decision to drop out of the race could only legally come from the candidate himself."
Celestin's withdrawal, voluntary or not, would mean the final run-off – set for January 16, but postponed due to the indecision after the November 28, 2010 first round – will be between academic and former First Lady Mirlande Manigat and popular musician Jean Michel "Sweet Micky" Martelly.
No date has been set for the final run-off poll, but UN officials on the earthquake ravaged and politically troubled island say the controversial electoral process might be concluded by February 2.
