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Aristide Ally Expected to Win Haitian Election

HeadlineFeb 07, 2006

In Haiti, voters are heading to the polls today in the first presidential election since the U.S.-backed ouster of Jean Bertrand Aristide nearly two years ago. The election is taking place after being postponed four times. An ally of Aristide named Rene Preval is expected to win today’s election but fall short of enough votes to prevent a run-off. Preval served as Aristide’s first prime minister and succeeded Aristide as president in 1996. Aristide once famously called Preval his “marassa” or twin. However Preval never joined Aristide’s political party Lavalas. He has said he would not prevent Aristide’s return to Haiti. On Monday, one of the most influential supporters of Aristide — the Catholic priest Gerard Jean-Juste — threw his support behind Preval. Polls show no critic of Aristide will more gain much more than 10 percent of the vote. A factory owner named Charles Henri Baker is polling second. He was a leader of the anti-Aristide Group of 184 and is the only white candidate in the race. He has been accused of running sweatshops.

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