Monday, September 9, 2013, after a ratification process article by article, began last Thursday, the deputies of the 49th Legislature to a few hours of parliamentary recess, have finally adopted [with difficulty] the last 10 articles of the electoral law, which includes on into 242 articles.

The deputies have changed and removed some articles of the law, informed the Deputy Gluck Théophile, citing the removal of an article allowing people outside the electoral machinery to enter the polling stations.

Regarding the article that fixed the term of senators elected in 2009to the second Monday of January 2014, the article was changed after two hours of debate and in the greatest disorder. It ow confirms the constitutional requirements regarding the end of the term of senators, to the second Monday of January 2015.

The deputies of the Parliamentary block for Stability and Progress (PSP) have vigorously challenged the wording of this article. The proposal favored by the PSP was that the senators in end of term [2014] remain in office until the swearing in of new senators, to avoid a Constitutional vacuum. Proposal deemed inadmissible by Jean Tholbert Alexis, President of the Lower House for procedural matters.

In a letter of protest addressed to Jean-Tholbert Alexis, Stevenson Jacques Timoléon [President of PSP] denounces the "malicious adoption of this article," adding that the Assembly had not been consulted to decide by its vote on this matter and asked the President of the Lower House, to not to transmit this legislation to the Senate, considering that the House of Representatives is still in debate...

The Deputy Me Jean Danton Léger, recalled that the report of the Commission was approved by 50 deputies, so it will require a petition of more than 50 deputies to open a new discussion on this article.

Regarding Article 3.1 contested by the opposition, stating that the Transitional College of the Permanent Electoral Council (CTCEP) will have a General Directorate, was ratified in the same terms.

Note that this ratification by the lower house, is only the first step. The electoral law must now be forwarded to the Senate to be passed in identical terms. After the vote of both Houses, the electoral law will be sent back to the National Palace, for objections and/or publication in the official journal Le Moniteur.

See also :

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-9380-haiti-elections-beginning-of-vote-for-electoral-law.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-9366-haiti-elections-two-reports-could-be-tabled.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-9362-haiti-elections-electoral-bill-passed-before-the-parliamentary-recess.html

S/ HaitiLibre