Haiti opposition protesters want President Martelly to step down immediately

Opposition protesters in Haiti are now demanding that the outgoing president Michel Martelly steps down immediately before the elections are held. Demonstrations continued even after Sunday’s presidential run off election was postponed.

“So that Martelly leaves power; and leaves the country. We don’t like him because what he is doing in the (presidential) palace is bad. He hasn’t done anything for the people,” said an unidentified demonstrator.

#Haiti protesters have just set this street on fire. pic.twitter.com/lYSlCYu7ds

— Jacqueline Charles (@Jacquiecharles) January 23, 2016

Opposition leaders have vowed to continue with the protest and keep up the pressure on Martelly to leave office immediately in order to have fair elections.

“The demonstrations will continue until the people are satisfied with their demands; that President Martelly leaves on February 7. Afterwards, we will have to reform the electoral council and organise elections that the majority of the people can trust. And then the protests will stop,” said Rene Momplaisir, manager of Jude Celestine’s campaigns.

Meanwhile,one of the Presidential candidate, Jovenel Moise is asking his supporters to stand by him.

“The people who went out and voted for the banana man (referring to himself), number five in the PHTK (Moise’s political party) on October 25, I ask them to continue to trust in me because I will not let them down. I will not betray them and I will not back down,” said Jovenel Moise,

Haiti was due to hold a runoff vote on Sunday (January 24), but the two-man race was postponed indefinitely after opposition candidate Jude Celestin declined to participate and anti-government protests and violence spread nationally.