THE decision by Haiti’s ruling Inite (Unity) party to accept the decision of the Provincial Electoral Council (CEP) and withdraw support of its candidate Jude Célestin in the presidential race has reduced the crisis conditions that crippled commercial life in the country and threatened to completely derail the recovery programme as administered by the Interim Recovery Commission.

One can guess that there must have been some behind-the-scenes diplomatic initiatives, besides the not-too-veiled threats of US State Department representatives to persuade the CEP’s acceptance of the recommendations by the OAS team of observers.

It seems also fair to state at this point that the decision by leaders in the Caribbean Community (Caricom) to refrain from pointless criticisms of the ruling party and even the president himself was correct. That certainly would have achieved nothing except generate long-term negative feelings by potential affiliates in the community who are likely to emerge in control of their country’s legislature when the elections are eventually concluded.

The CEP’s declaration appears to have had the tacit approval of all parties, with the exception of Célestin, the ejected candidate of the ruling party. Célestin had refused to withdraw his candidacy although his own party had indicated that it would accept the OAS’s recommendation that the election should proceed without his name on the ballot.

Based on last week’s decision, Haiti’s new leader would be either of the two winners from the first round — Mirlande Manigat or Michel Martelly. In the interim, there has been a lull in street protests, allowing commercial life to resume some normalcy in the capital.

And what of Célestin? That the decision has left him bitter, there can be no doubt. He indicated as much in an open farewell letter to supporters written, according to him, “…from the confines of indignation and anger…”

Besides expressing some bitterness about the withdrawal of his party’s support of his candidacy, his letter indicated glimmers of optimism. “An activist never lost the war, he loses battles,” he wrote.

Those words may have a deeper meaning when viewed in the overall context of the elections to come.

Similar sentiments were expressed by the party’s national co-ordinator, Senator Joseph Lambert in his call on supporters to stay calm, not engage in violence and “accept that in a democracy there will be losses and victories”.

Indeed, Inite’s retreat from the second round in the presidential contest appears to be a tactical move in their long-term interest. Based on Lambert’s comments, the party is now focused on securing control of the country’s Parliament by gaining majority seats in the second round of the elections.

Inite has already claimed three Senate seats in the first round and 12 Lower House seats. This means they now have 14 senators, and with just two more seats they will have the majority there. Forty-two of their candidates are into the second round for the Lower House and they need to grab 38 more for a commanding majority.

Originally, Rene Préval’s five-year term was supposed to end on Monday, February 7. But that was before the electoral crisis forced a delay of the presidential race’s second round, which was originally scheduled for January 16. As a result, the Haitian Senate extended Préval’s term until May 14.

Given the antagonism that exists between the parties and their supporters, there may be some continued protests in the streets against his continued leadership. However, the retreat tactic by Inite may have reduced the motivation for such short-term protest action by its opponents.

The focus now is likely to be on the run-off stage of the elections. Manigat and Martelly now have the spotlight to themselves.

The moderate Manigat, 70, a soft-spoken former first lady and constitutional-law scholar, would be Haiti’s first elected female president. She had garnered 32 per cent of the November 28 vote, compared with about 22 per cent for Martelly, an entertainer who goes by the name ‘Sweet Micky’ and who is regarded by some as the Michael Jackson of Haitian pop.

Not too much is known about their leadership potential at this stage. Interestingly, their credibility with the other candidates took some knocks when they both vacillated in their stance against the November 28 vote. Initially they, like the other candidates (except Célestin), declared the vote invalid, then changed their minds when the results put them in the run-off. They have since worked to restore any presumed loss of credibility on that score.

All things considered, it is reasonable to conclude at this stage that whoever wins will face a new parliament dominated by Préval’s Inite Party.

The new leadership will have plenty on his or her plate to command their attention. The cholera epidemic that has so far claimed more than 4,000 people still rages. The recovery programme has all but derailed and needs to get back on track.

There is no room for further distractions if the country is to achieve its reconstruction aims. Sadly, that reality has never been an effective deterrent.