Haitian president pledges to call mid-term elections

Haitian President Michel Martelly Wednesday promised to call mid-term elections and boost economic recovery to improve the people's livelihood. Admitting that the majority of the Haitian people have been suffering severe hardships, Martelly in a year-end message vowed to work to benefit the most vulnerable groups and distant communities. "To all the ones who have been mistreated, to the ill ones, to the ones who suffer, to the ones who have lost hope, to the victims of hurricanes, cholera, insecurity and high cost of living, I show them all my respect," the president said. Martelly called on the people to trust the leadership and the opposition to engage in dialogue with the government to safeguard stability to benefit the recovery of Haiti's economy which had been tattered by a 7.3-magnitude earthquake in January 2010. The president promised to call mid-term elections. The government and parliament signed a Memorandum of Understanding on Christmas Eve to establish a Temporary Electoral Council to organize the next elections, during which the Haitians will elect one third of the Senate, or ten congressmen, 142 mayors and 570 deputies nationwide.