BY JACQUELINE CHARLES
JCHARLES@MIAMIHERALD.COM
PORT-AU-PRINCE -- PORT-AU-PRINCE -- With just 14 days left in his presidential term, Haitian President René Préval could find himself deemed illegitimate and his government not recognized by the international community unless runoff elections to choose his successor are announced before Feb. 7, diplomatic sources say.
In ongoing discussions within the international community Sunday, it was agreed that should Préval try to pull the plug on the presidential elections and stay on beyond Feb. 7, some countries would request the Organization of American States to start consultations at the Permanent Council level in order to declare him illegitimate based on the Democratic Charter of the Americas.
``No recognition of him as president, Jean-Max Bellerive as prime minister after that,'' said a diplomat, who requested anonymity because of the sensitive nature of the matter.
In recent days, Haitian authorities have floated the idea of canceling the presidential elections and holding a first and second round before May 14. Earlier this year, Haitian senators agreed to allow Préval to remain in office until May 14, five years to the day he assumed power in 2006, if his successor had not been elected by Feb. 7.
The paralyzing political crisis is creating panic among Préval's supporters and divisions within his fragile political coalition.
On Monday, Haiti's Senate plans to meet to pass a resolution urging elections officials to adopt the OAS' report suggesting that Célestin be replaced in the runoff spot.
Senators also plan to denounce all of the fraud in the elections. Every one of the 19 presidential camps lost votes to fraud, according to the OAS' report.
In recent days, the international community has grown increasingly impatient and frustrated with a stubborn Préval. Last week, the Obama administration stepped up pressure on Haiti by revoking U.S. visas ``for a number of'' Haitian government officials and citizens close to Préval. More visa cancellations can come in the coming days.
Also, Susan Rice, the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, warned a quake-ravaged Haiti could lose international support unless it moves forward.
Preliminary election results had Célestin headed into a runoff with former first lady Mirlande Manigat. But according to the OAS report, the runoff should be between Manigat and musician Michel ``Sweet Micky'' Martelly.
Préval and Bellerive have taken issue with the report, saying that its methodology, based on a review of 234 tally sheets, is flawed. On Friday, Haitian elections officials spent about five hours listening to disputes by attorneys for Célestin and Martelly, as well as one other candidate.
Hearings are scheduled to resume Monday. That same day, the eight members of Haiti's electoral council, who have said they will take the OAS report into consideration, are scheduled to meet with the international community. The international community paid most of the $29 million elections tab.
``Préval's constitutional term is coming to an end as of Feb. 7 and the international community is trying to find a way of supporting the electoral process for a second round after he is gone,'' the diplomat said.
Under the Haitian Constitution, the president of the country's highest court would be president and the current government, led by Bellerive, would remain in place until a new president is inaugurated.
On Saturday evening, Préval made a surprise trip to the Dominican Republic. Some believe he's trying to get Leonel Fernandez to help mediate the political crisis, along with former presidents Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva of Brazil and Bill Clinton of the United States.
Read more: http://www.miamiherald.com/2011/01/23/2030486/haitis-preval-under-pressure-to.html#storylink=twtuser#ixzz1ByAjMca1
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