Haiti council insists Dec. 27 runoff will take place, releases partial legislative results

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti – Haitian electoral authorities say they expect to hold a late December presidential runoff as scheduled even though there's been deep public suspicion of first-round results here and abroad.

Mosler Georges is executive director of Haiti's Provisional Electoral Council. He tells reporters that "everything is ready" for the Dec. 27 runoff between leading presidential candidate Jovenel Moise and No. 2 finisher Jude Celestin.

But Haitian rights groups, independent observers and nearly every political faction except the one led by outgoing President Michel Martelly has alleged rampant fraud. Celestin has dismissed the results as a "ridiculous farce." The council has brushed off the criticism.

Georges also said Monday that overdue final results in legislative elections will be announced Thursday. Those runoffs are also scheduled for Dec. 27.