The elections in Haiti in 2000

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Local elections, March-April 2000

Election trouble already
This Week in Haiti, Haiti Progres, 5–11 January 2000. Barely had the last of the candidates for the elections scheduled for March 19 finished registering on December 12 than hostilities broke out among the contending political parties. Washington's former proxy party, now discarded, the Organization of People in Struggle (OPL), was the first to cry foul last month.
Postponed elections: New excuse for foreign meddling?
This Week in Haiti, Haiti Progrès, 8–14 March 2000. Various popular organizations declare that it is impossible to hold parliamentary and municipal elections on March 19 as scheduled. The calls come after weeks of protest by thousands across Haiti who have been unable to procure a photo identification electoral card, due to shortages of supplies and of voter registration stations. So the CEP formally announced that the elections would be postponed to April 9, with run-offs for May 21. The registration period has been extended until Mar. 15.
Haiti? The IMF?
By Stan Goff, 19 April 2000. The postponement of parialmentary elections is being portrayed by an uncritical press as President Preval ruling by decree, after having sacked Parliament. The ill-informed rumor is that Preval is helping Aristide by postponing the parliamentary elections until the presidential elections, so Aristide's Fanmi Lavalas Party will sweep the parliamentary elections on Aristide's popular coat tails.
Massive turn-out foils electoral coup d’etat...for now
This Week in Haiti, Haiti Progres, 24–30 May 2000. The Lavalas Family (FL), the party headed by former president Jean-Bertrand Aristide, has swept Haiti's legislative and municipal elections throughout most of the country. The Provisional Electoral Council (CEP) announced that more than 60% of the four million-odd registered voters turned out to pick from among 29,490 candidates running to fill the seats of 19 senators, 83 deputies, 133 mayors, and 7000 local assembly representatives.
Haiti's woes just keep on multiplying
By Ives Marie Chanel, IPS, 6 June 2000. One would have thought that holding democratic elections in Haiti would have gone a long way toward solving some of the country's political problems. One would have been very wrong. The opposition is contesting the results of the first round of polling. All the problems does not make it look good for the staging of presidential elections at the end of the year.
With second round, Haiti blows off foreign bluster
This Week in Haiti, Haiti Progress, 12–18 July 2000. Despite a constant cacophony of complaints from followerless politicians and their foreign political allies, the Provisional Electoral Council (CEP) held nationwide run-offs for municipal and legislative posts on Jul. 9 with a minimum of violence and confusion. There was also a minimum of participation in different regions of the country.
New Parliament faces mounting challenges
This Week in Haiti, Haiti Progres, 6–12 September 2000. It took 18 grueling months: assassinations, resignations, street demonstrations, election delays, and massive foreign meddling, but a compromise government and electoral council installed Haiti's 47th legislature on Aug. 28. The new parliament is faced with economic and political turmoil, but its inauguration at least offers a glimmer of hope.

Presidential election, November 2000

Aristide registers his candidacy
This Week in Haiti, Haiti Progrès, 11–17 October 2000. A crowd massed in front of the offices of the Provisional Electoral Council office (CEP) as former president Jean-Bertrand Aristide finally enrolled as a presidential candidate. Accompanying him were several prominent members of his Fanmi Lavalas party (FL).
Candidates Drop Out of Haiti's Race
By Michael Norton, AP, 17 November 2000. Two candidates withdrew from Haiti's presidential race, accusing electoral officials of favoring former President Jean-Bertrand Aristide. All of Haiti's major opposition parties are boycotting the Nov. 26 vote, and Aristide's race against a handful of unknowns is raising questions at home and abroad about the legitimacy of any victory.
Haitian Election Unfolds
By Jonathan Nack, Haïti Progrès, 29 Novembre–5 Décembre 2000. It is all but certain that former president Jean-Bertrand Aristide has been re-elected as chief of state after stepping aside five years ago to be succeeded by René Préval, his first Prime Minister. Aristide faced six virtually unknown challengers, three of whom withdrew from the race at the last minute.
Aristide sworn in as Haiti's president
BBC, 7 February 2001. Jean-Bertrand Aristide has been sworn in for a second term as president of Haiti amid an ongoing power struggle in the country. Haiti's 15-party opposition alliance, Convergence, announced its own alternative president. Mr Aristide, 47, was re-elected president on 26 November, with his Lavalas Party winning more than 80% of local and parliamentary seats.
Another blatant error
From a dialog on the Haiti list, January 2004. An Associated Press article concerning the election is cited in a discussion on the Haiti list that Aristide's election was tainted. This charge arose long after the fact, for it is countered there was no such accusation at the time