US accepts Haitian President Moises for another year in power

The United States has accepted the popular President of Haiti, Jovenel Moise, for another year in power but has insisted on self-control and new elections.

Moise has ruled for the past year without any control over his power, saying he will remain President until February 7, 2022 - in an interpretation of the constitution rejected by the opposition, which led to protests claiming the term ends Sunday.

"We have urged the Haitian government to hold free and fair legislative elections so that Parliament can resume its legitimate role," Foreign Ministry spokesman Ned Price told reporters in Washington.

"In line with the position of the Organization of American States, the United States believes that a newly elected president should succeed President Moise when his term ends on February 7, 2022," Price said.

But the US, which is Haiti's biggest donor, has warned the government to exercise restraint until the election.

Decisions must be reserved for the "power to schedule legislative elections and for immediate threats to life, health, and safety until parliament is restored and can resume its constitutional responsibilities," Price said.

In 2018, the election of delegates, senators, mayors, and local officials had to be held, but the polls were delayed, causing the vacuum in which Moise says he is entitled to stay another year.

In a letter to the UN mission in Haiti, a dozen human rights and women's groups blamed the mission for providing technical and logistical support for the President's plans for a referendum on constitutional reform in April to hold and then later in the year.

"Under no circumstances may the United Nations support President Jovenel Moise in his anti-democratic plans," the letter said.

These groups said that according to their reading of the constitution of the poor Caribbean country, the President's term ends Sunday.

The Electoral Council's dates for all these votes were unilaterally appointed by the President. The members were not sworn in by a court as provided by law here. Crime - and whether it will prevent a proper mood - is another major problem in people's minds.

Over the past few months, kidnappings of ransoms in Haiti have revived, targeting the rich and the majority living below the poverty line indiscriminately.

The kidnappings, and the strangulation of armed gangs in a number of areas in the capital Port-au-Prince and the provinces, are all threats to secure elections.

The UN political mission in the country called the United Nations Integrated Office in Haiti, or BINUH of the French acronym has been in operation since October 2019.

The UN said its mission was to advise the government on promoting and strengthening political stability, good governance, and the rule of law.

The letter released on Friday was fierce in its criticism of the UN mission.