Haiti review panel has a week to review much criticized electoral process

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti _ A five-member commission has been installed to evaluate Haiti’s electoral process and recommend ways out of an impasse that has postponed presidential and legislative runoffs.

Two members who were initially named to the panel have withdrawn after the opposition objected to their participation.

The five final members of the panel were sworn in late Tuesday by Prime Minister Evans Paul. He says it’s an independent commission that is free to set the scope of its probe, though it has just a week to finish its work.

Paul says the main goal is to create political stability and ensure that power is transferred to a new leader on the constitutional deadline of Feb. 7.

Electoral officials said Wednesday they will name a new election date once the commission makes its recommendations

The Associated Press