U.S. to Haiti: Don't delay elections

The Obama administration on Tuesday warned Haiti against a long delay of elections previously scheduled for early next year to ensure that the billions of dollars in international aid pledged after the January earthquake are spent by a legitimate government.

During a visit to Washington to thank the administration for its massive rescue and relief efforts, Haitian President Rene Preval said a parliamentary vote planned for February is likely to be postponed because of the devastation caused by the Jan. 12 quake.

"Everybody will understand that, due to the conditions, how difficult it will be to respect that timetable and to organize elections," Mr. Preval told reporters at the State Department after meeting with Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton.

"Political stability is something fundamental for the development of a country," he said. "That is what constitutes a guarantee for investors, for the population, that there is some guarantees, that there is some security about their future."

Mrs. Clinton said the U.S. government so far "has supplied nearly $700 million in assistance," and about a "half of all households in America have contributed something to private relief efforts," so it is important that there are responsible officials in Haiti to make sure the money is spent properly.

RELATED STORY: Obama: Situation in Haiti remains 'dire'

"We must work toward elections to ensure the stability and legitimacy of the Haitian government," she said. "I assured President Preval that the United States would work with the international community to hold elections as soon as appropriate."

Before the parliamentary vote, presidential elections are scheduled for November, but it is not clear if they will take place then. Although Mr. Preval, who also met with President Obama, does not plan to stay in office after his term ends in February, he also said there should not be a power vacuum.

"Before I depart, we must have a parliament and a new president. We have almost a year to do that," he said. "If in a year we have a provisional government, that would be a catastrophe. That government would have no legitimacy, there wouldn't be a parliament … and it would really be a return to 2004."

He referred to a chaotic period when a bloody rebellion forced former President Jean-Bertrand Aristide into exile.

Story Continues →