Over 50 candidates vie to become Haiti’s next president

World Today

A woman looks at posters of presidential candidates placed on top of the fence of the Presidential Palace in downtown Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Saturday, Oct. 24, 2015. (AP Photo/Ricardo Arduengo)

Haiti has long been portrayed as a country that is almost impossible to govern. But that doesn’t mean there’s any shortage of volunteers.

Security is tight ahead of presidential elections on Oct. 25. The pre-election period has been marred by violence, with at least 15 people reported killed.

More than 5 years since Haiti suffered an earthquake that was one of the worst natural disasters of modern times, roughly 5.8 million voters are registered to cast ballots for the next president, 129 lawmakers, and a slew of local offices.

As Stephen Gibbs reports from Port au Prince, there is long list of 54 candidates seeking to replace the incumbent, Michel Martelly. The upcoming vote is expected to clear the sprawling presidential field for a runoff Dec. 27 between the top two finishers.

Follow Stephen Gibbs on Twitter @STHGibbs

AP reporting contributed to this report.