Haiti Democracy Project

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Aristide sets May 18 as next date for resolution of electoral crisis

He arrived at this date in a meeting on May 3 at the palace with different sectors, not including the opposition group the Democratic Convergence. Marc Bazin, minister of planning, said the meeting was a step toward resolution of the crisis. He said sacrifices must be made to resolve the impasse. The vote must be reheld as a majority of participants in the May 3 meeting called for, he said.

The Civil Society Initiative said the meeting was a promising debut and said they would talk to the Democratic Convergence about restarting the negotiations. The Initiative was supposed to give President Aristide on May 4 a report on the different suggestions on the table. The Initiative had the suggestions of the Center for Free Enterprise and Democracy (CLED) and those of the Lavalas Family and the Convergence from which to find common points. "It's urgent to reach a solution, the people are tired," said Pierre Emile Rouzier, a spokesperson of the Initiative who deplored the absence of the Convergence from the May 3 discussion. The CLED propoal foresees holding new legislative elections in one year and formation of a consensus government and electoral commission.

The leaders of the Democratic Convergence said they were willing to meet with Aristide but on neutral ground. "We're ready to have real negotiations with the leader of the Lavalas Family to get the country out of this impasse," said Serges Gilles. The head of the Space for Concertation said it was time for Aristide to pass from words to actions.

The provisional president of the opposition on May 2 issued a proposal for new legislative, municipal and local elections and a review of the November 26 presidential election.