Haiti Senate approves measure calling for suspension of vote

By Michelle Nurse On Jan 21, 2016

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP) — A majority of Haitian senators on Wednesday approved a resolution calling for the suspension of presidential and legislative runoffs set for this weekend.

However, political observers and lawmakers said the resolution calling for the Jan. 24 vote to be halted, among other measures, is non-binding and can’t actually stop the final round of Haiti’s elections.

“This can’t force the CEP’s hand,” said constitutional historian Georges Michel, referring to the acronym for the Haitian council that oversees the electoral process. “They can just ignore this vote and the senators know that.”

Reached hours before the lawmakers voted, electoral council spokesman Roudy Stanley Penn said he could not provide a response when asked what the body would do if Haiti’s Senate endorsed the measure. He could not be reached Wednesday evening.