Saturday, April 25, 2015

Haiti First Lady Sophia Martelly Holds Dual-Nationality

Reports: Haiti First Lady Sophia Martelly holds dual-nationality
PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (sentinel.ht) - Sophia Saint Remy Martelly was born in New York, USA according to the Miami Herald and the Agence France-Presse. Even though the Haitian Constitution requires one to "Be a native-born Haitian" to be elected to the Senate, on Thursday she registered her candidacy for the seat.

It is possible that First Lady Sophia Martelly, who is running under the banner of her husband, Michel Martelly's, Tet Kale political party, is unaware of the Constitution and law regarding this matter. But if she was aware of it, she did not make comments to the press as to why she is not purposefully attempting to violate the law.

Aritcle 96 (1) of the Constitution of Haiti reads:

To be elected to the Senate, a person must be a native born Haitian and never have renounced his nationality;
 
Since the close of registration, three days are left for the period of contest. This is the time left where the Department Electoral Offices (BEDs) will accept objections to candidacies and review them.
The BEDs will engage in their own process of review the filed parts of aspiring candidates before publishing a name of approved candidates on May 1.

It appears the Provisional Electoral Council (CEP) will lose its credibility early if it were to let the First Lady pass.

A number of persons have commented on radio airwaves, including Fusion of Social Democrats (Fusion 38) President, former Senator Edmonde Supplice Beauzile, a candidate for the presidency.
Beauzile said that it was an illegal candidacy and she expected the CEP to act accordingly.

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