PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (sentinel.ht) – The President of the Electoral Council, Emmanuel Menard, said senatorial and local elections, that were due to be held in November of 2011, will likely be held on January 26, 2014… “with or without the electoral law,” that is currently in the Senate.

While the Constitution of Haiti does give exclusive right to the Permanent Electoral Council to organize and control with complete independence in ARTICLE 191, ARTICLE 191-1 requires a bill be submitted to the Executive Branch and ratified by Parliament in order to become the Electoral Law.

To The Sentinel staff, this would suggest the Electoral Law, as drafted by the Electoral Council should not be modified by either the Executive or Parliament without being accepted by the Electoral Council. It is fact that the document was modified at the National Palace, in the Chamber of Deputies, and is currently undergoing revisions in the Senate.

Elections January 26, 2014: The Declaration of the CTCEP President

“Aware of his historic mission to organize credible elections in order to ensure political stability to preserve the democratic gains made by many sacrifices for each other and foster a climate of peace conducive to sustainable investment that can generate jobs the Transitional College of the Permanent Electoral Council (CTCEP) again reiterates its commitment to the electoral machinery in motion to achieve inclusive elections,” read Emmanuel Menard on public television Tuesday night.

According to his statement, the CTCEP has been working to strengthen the administrative and technical structures of the electoral institution.

“After working with natural national partners and those of the international community and analyzing the different parameters, given the current situation, the CTCEP, competently met in regular session on Tuesday, October 1, 2013, and decided, in accordance with its mandate imperative to adopt a pre-electoral calendar…”

During the month of October, he announced the electoral institution will proceed with the liquidation of arrears of salaries of its staff to Departmental Electoral Offices (BED) and the Communal Electoral Offices (BEC) and the rents due.

From October 7 to 11, journalists will be invited to make their accreditation, according to Emmanuel Menard, to facilitate access to information.

On the 13 to 21 of the same month, the CTCEP will proceed to the recruitment of candidates for the full development of the BED and BEC.

October 24 will be the publication of the list of successful applicants for the entrance examination to be held on 26 and 31 October for the publication of results while November 4 will take oath.

From October 21 to 31, the electoral institution will conduct the registration of parties and willing to participate in the elections. The entry list will be published on 4 November.

From November 5 to 7 this will be the challenge period and 9 November the CTCEP publish the final list of approved political structures.

The beginning of the establishment of the electoral list will be October 15. “On 26 January 2014, probable date for the first round of elections,” solemnly announced the president of CTCEP.

Contacted by Le Nouvelliste very late in the night of Tuesday, Emmanuel Ménard noted that to arrive at the elections, “it takes a combination of all the reviewers … ” he said that the Constitution provides that in case of a vacancy on the elections made ​​in the next 90 days. ” The Constitution recognizes that we can make elections in three months,” he said.

A direct issue of the Journal, “is that you will move forward with or without the electoral legislation from the Senate,” the president of CTCEP replied: “Of course. This is not because a law is pending in Parliament that I can not do the job that the law and the Constitution gives me. I can not wait for the government. No power can be distracted from their responsibilities. Everyone must take responsibility. I’m about the law , I ‘m not a legislator … ”

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