Even with what is regarded as an outright victory in last month’s presidential election, Jovenel Moïse is facing a tough time.
Three opposition parties have been successful in challenging the November 20 election results which saw the banana exporter, who was chosen by former president Michel Martelly to represent his party, taking 55.67 per cent of the vote.
The country’s electoral court has ordered a review.
Judges for the National Bureau of Electoral Litigation (BCEN) said they considered it “necessary to shine a light to establish the truth” and therefore ordered the ballots to be “transported to the tabulation centre for the verification of 12 per cent of the results.”
The decision followed lengthy arguments by lawyers for the opposition candidates and more than five hours of deliberation by the judges.
With Moïse’s more than 50 per cent election win, it had been expected that a planned January runoff would be avoided. But no final decision can be made until the court-ordered review has been completed.