PORT AU PRINCE, Haiti (CMC) –The nine-members of the Provisional Electoral Council (CEP) Saturday held talks with officials of the major political parties here amid widespread speculation that presidential elections could take place on October 9.

According to informed sources, the CEP has indicated a willingness to publish an electoral calendar next week, as early as Monday outlining the dates for the presidential elections.

The sources said that the first round will be held on October 9 and if a candidate does not receive the necessary amount of votes to prevent a second round, then that will take place on January 8, 2017 and the final election results will be published January 30, next year.

Media reports here said that Interim President Jocelerme Privert, who was in Cuba attending the summit of the Association of Caribbean States (ACS) told his Dominican Republic counterpart, Danilo Medina that the poll will be held in October.

He said it “should take place on October 9 and that based on the information he has, “from the date of publication of the electoral calendar, CEP needs 90 to 120 days to organise elections”.

The October elections would also include voting for one-third of the Senate.

During the meeting on Saturday, party officials were informed that the presidential race, which fielded 54 candidates, will not be re-opened to accommodate any new candidates and the current 54 will have until June 27 to confirm their participation in the election.

Gerald Germain, spokesman for Jude Celestin, who placed second in the October 25 presidential election, said his candidate agrees with the timetable and the CEP’s proposal.

“We’ve always contended that the October. 25 elections were not elections,” he said.

The winner of the October poll, Jovenel Moise, has already the verification report regarding the election, , calling it unconstitutional and illegal.

Haiti has been without an elected head of state ever since President Michel Martelly left office in February.