1、RS INSIGHTElections in HaitiOctober 20, 2015 (IN10377) | Related AuthorMaureen Taft-Morales |Maureen Taft-Morales, Specialist in Latin American Affairs (mtmoralescrs.loc.gov, 7-7659)Haiti is in the midst of a national election cycle to fill all 119 seats in the Chamber of Deputies, 20 seats in the 3
2、0-seat Senate, and most municipal officesand to elect a new president. The next round of elections is scheduled for October 25. A runoff date for some of the seats is scheduled for December 27, 2015. Elections in Haiti have generally increased political tension in the short term, and reduced them in
3、 the long term, and this election cycle is no exception to that trend. The United States is providing electoral assistance to Haiti and has encouraged Haiti to carry out the elections as scheduled.Troubled Road to Elections. Haiti has endured an extended political crisis due to the governments failu
4、re to hold a series of elections for prolonged periods. These delays have hampered the governments ability to function, decreased the publics faith in public institutions, and led thousands of Haitians to take to the streets calling both for elections to be held and for President Martelly to resign.