WASHINGTON (US) – US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo told Haitian President Jovenel Moise on Sunday it is “critical” that his country holds a delayed election and ramp up the rule of law as well as human rights. Since January, the Caribbean country has been without a parliament after it missed a deadline to hold elections and the president is yet to fix a date.
“It is critical that Haiti schedule its overdue legislative elections, form an inclusive (electoral council), and strengthen rule of law and support for human rights. These are key elements of the democratic process,” Pompeo Tweeted after his meeting with Moise.
“Like me, our American partners believe that elections remains the ideal way for democracy to survive,” Moise Tweeted.
Moise and Pompeo met at the swearing-in ceremony of Dominican Republic President Luis Abinader.
On Friday, Acting Secretary for Western Hemisphere Affairs Michael Kozak said US was aware of the difficulties in holding polls in Haiti, but the president should lay the groundwork for that.
“We’re trying to build a little bit of a fire there,” Kozak said. “If you’re going to have a democracy, that means all three branches of the democracy need to be in place. It can’t just be one or two.”
(Photos syndicated via Reuters)
This story has been edited by BH staff and is published from a syndicated field
