Political Analysis Of The 2011 Haitian Electoral Process

Over the years, the United States has exerted its influence over the democratic process in Haiti. This was particularly evident during the current 2011 presidential election. The Preval government like many rigged elections before had sought to revoke the candidacy of several candidates including the popular Michel Martelly. However, Canada, France and the United States rightly threatened to revoke the visas of several prominent Preval government officials, cut off financial aid and deem the Haitian government illegitimate if Michel Martelly was not allowed to proceed in the elections.

Weisbrot(2011) and the nonprofit The Center for Economic Policy(CEP) felt the Organization of American States and the Martely decision to be an injustice to Haitian democracy(para. 4). Weisbrot(2011) categorized the process as one in which foreign governments like the United States have acted in a way as to “control” the democratic process in Haiti(para 5). Weisbrot's flawed analysis could not be further from the truth. The United States, Canada and France have been long time important allies of Haitian democracy. These countries have steadfastly guarded Haitian democracy and are actively involved in the process to ensure that the Haiti elections is a fair and equitable process and that the candidates offered were indeed candidates desirous of the will of the Haitian people. Kuleta(2011) got it right when he stated that the US, Canada and France were not in Haiti to “control” the process but to “monitor” the fairness of the electoral process(p.3).

Kuleta(2011) rightly infers the CEPR analysis to be politically flawed p.1). In addition, Beeton(2011) wrongly suggests the Organization of American States (OAS) election mission report as a “pretext for international pressure on the Haitian government to overturn the initial count from the November 2010 general election which had placed Celestin slightly ahead of Martelly(para4).” Word of mouth from verified family members and friends in Haiti during this period proved to be patently false. OAS and Kuleta(2011) correctly suggested that Michel Martelly had been the frontrunner candidate from day one. The Preval government and their political crony candidate Jude Celestin found this to be a vexing affirmation of the will of the Haitian peoples. Many outsiders including Mr. Weisbrot, CEPR and Beeton did not realize that Jude Celestin was also Rene Preval’s son in law and that Preval’s nepotism was at the heart of the Haitian political controversy. The United States, Canada and France were trying to prevent Preval cronies from hijacking the electoral process.

Beeton(2011)'s misguided analysis found OAS’s vote tally to be “methodically and statistically flawed” and “appears to be a political decision and not a professional decision that favored Michel Martelly“(para 4). Careful and independent reviews of the vote count left no doubt Michel Martely had been the frontrunner candidate. Kuleta(2011) rightly suggests it is CEPR’s analysis that is tragically flawed and a grave injustice to the Haitian democratic dialogue. The audited OAS study believed OAS conducted a detailed, audited and fair tally of votes despite Preval’s flawed and nepotistic governmental intent. OAS accurately precluded Preval’s cronyism and executed real time and tangible democracy for the Haitian people. The US Ambassador to Haiti did eloquently get it right when he stated that “We simply want the will of the Haitian people to be respected(para 6).”(Beeton) To their detriment, Weisbrot, Beeton et al. failed to understand the political will of the Haitian people.

In conclusion,when reading high search content be sure it passes rigorous editorial review. High ranking content may not necessarily equate to quality analysis. People that search the internet for quality articles on a particular subject like Haitian politics should be careful to use all inclusive and real time methods for conducting research like actual surveys of Haitian residents, interviews from friends and family in Haiti as well as actual witness statements. Be careful when jumping head first onto the Wikileaks bandwagon. Oftentimes, people sit behind a computer and type a few search terms then look at the top search results or "Wikileaks" as the authority on the subject. As this article attempts to suggest, high search articles may sometimes produce flawed political analyses.

Weisbrot, Mark Haiti's Democracy In The Balance http://www.guardian.co.uk January 18, 2011

Beeton, Dan "Big Setback for Haitian Democracy as U.S. Gets Its Way; Forces Runoff Elections Between Two Right-Wing Candidates” http://www.cepr.net February 3, 2011

Kuleta, Gene “Is Haiti’s Presidential Runoff Election Now On Track?” http://thedialogue.org March 9, 2011