U.S. says Haiti’s Preval could delay end of term

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti – President Rene Preval could conceivably remain in power for a few weeks beyond his soon-to-expire term if the election for his successor is deemed to be proceeding fairly, senior U.S. officials said following a one-day visit by Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton.

Under Haiti’s constitution, presidential terms begin and end on Feb. 7. An emergency law passed four months after last year’s devastating earthquake by an expiring Senate said Preval could remain in power for up to three months extra because his inauguration was delayed in 2006.

The key issue is what will happen after he leaves office. Clinton made clear in meetings with Preval, the candidates and officials on Sunday that the United States wants Haiti to follow recommendations that would result in the elimination of the president’s chosen candidate, Jude Celestin, from the second round.

The members of the provisional electoral council, which has the final say, were individually approved by Preval.

Following those recommendations, made by an Organization of American States expert team, would leave former first lady Mirlande Manigat, a conservative law professor, and singer Michel “Sweet Micky” Martelly, a populist, to meet in the second round.

Leaders of Preval’s Unity party said last week that Celestin had rightly won the election but should step down because of pressure from the United States and other countries. Days earlier the State Department canceled visas of Haitian officials, nearly all reportedly from Unity, and the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations said sustained U.S. support for Haiti depended in part on the OAS recommendations being implemented.

Celestin has not publicly commented since. Unity’s coordinator did not return calls Monday. His lawyers have continued fighting for him to advance in the race.

The U.S. officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity citing department policy, said that Clinton neither asked Celestin to pull out of the race nor Preval to force him out, and that Celestin gave no indication he would resign.

They characterized the meeting with Celestin at the U.S. ambassador’s sprawling estate in Petionville as “very respectful.”

The announcement of who will be on the rescheduled March 20 ballot is expected Wednesday.