Instability impedes presidential run-off elections in Haiti

(Vatican Radio)  Voters in Haiti will go to the polls later this month on January 17th in the second round, runoff election to choose the country's new president, yet instability and unrest surrounds the elections.

Listen to James Blears' report:

The Presidential Election runoff was supposed to be last week. It had to be put back due to street protests and accusations of electoral fraud.  A special commission to investigate this has been formed.

President Michel Martelly, who's constitutionally prohibited from running for another term, is appealing for calm and common sense to prevail.  He's urging voters to respect the process, exercise their rights, and vote.

He also points out that the latest a second round runoff can take place is January 17th, if a new President is to be inaugurated by February 7th.

Haiti is the poorest nation in the Western Hemisphere. It was devastated by a massive earthquake in 2010, which killed an estimated quarter of a million of its population, destroying vast amounts of infrastructure. 

The recovery and rebuilding process is far from over.