Exiled leader Aristide returns to Haiti
Former Haitian president Jean-Bertrand Aristide denounced the exclusion of his political party Fanmi Lavales from presidential elections, as he arrived in the capital Port-au-Prince after seven years in exile.
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Several thousand people were at the airport to greet him.
“The exclusion of Fanmi Lavalas is the exclusion of the majority of Haitians,” Aristide declared. But he said he does not want to play a political role and has returned to work in education.
Isabeau Doucet, Port-au-Prince
In a 10-minute speech at the airport, he said that the country has deteriorated since he was ousted in 2004 in a military coup backed by the United States and France.
“Haiti’s greatest hope is Haitiains, and the best cure is love,” Aristide said. “Young heros and heroines of Haiti, lovers of liberty, the mother republic is calling us all.”
The country’s presidential run-off election is due to be held on Sunday.
Aristide is still the most popular political figure in Haiti, but his political party is no longer a significant political mobiliser, according to correspondent Isabeau Doucet.
“There aren’t very many popular political figures because most of the politicians don’t think the same way as the people,” she says. “Aristide to this day has an incredible ability to speak to people in a way that makes them feel very proud. He’s still very much regarded as the father figure, the leader.”
The two candidates, pop star Michel Martelly and former first lady Mirlande Manigat, gained about 10 per cent of the electorate in the first round, which had a 23 per cent turnout.
France and the United States have expressed concern over Aristide’s return. Barack Obama rang South African President Jacob Zuma and urged him to delay Aristide’s return by a month until after the elections.
"The fact that the United States has so overtly tried to intervene makes Aristide all the more powerful," says Doucet. "It makes his return all the more politically significant."
France wanted to pressure South Africa to not let Aristide return at all, Doucet adds.
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