Guy Philippe, former coup leader wanted by US, wins Haiti senate seat

A former coup leader wanted by the US Drug Enforcement Administration for alleged cocaine trafficking and money laundering has won election to Haiti’s senate, according to preliminary results released by the electoral council.

Guy Philippe defeated all other candidates in the second round of elections, held on 20 November, for the south-western Grand Anse region, which is still recovering from the damage inflicted by Hurricane Matthew.

“Victory, thank you Grand Anse,” said a message posted on Philippe’s Facebook page late on Sunday. “My fellow compatriots, together we will accomplish and live a patriotic act of faith.”

In Haiti, losing candidates have a period in which to file complaints about the results. If Philippe’s win stands, he will take office for a six-year term early next year.

In 2004, the former police officer, who Human Rights Watch said had overseen unlawful killings, was a prominent figure in a coup d’état against President Jean-Bertrand Aristide.

His election underscores political turmoil in impoverished Haiti, which is still struggling to establish democratic institutions more than 20 years after it threw off a dictatorship.

The DEA has a longstanding arrest warrant against Philippe and lists him as one of its most wanted fugitives, accusing him of conspiracy to import cocaine and launder monetary instruments. He has denied the accusations and said the US has no legal jurisdiction to make arrests in Haiti.

DEA agents backed by Haitian police made a failed bid to arrest Philippe in 2007. He was not at home when the agents showed up. A US embassy spokesman said it had no official position on Philippe’s electoral victory. The DEA was not immediately available for comment.

Earlier this year, Philippe threatened an uprising against any transitional government put in place after President Michel Martelly left power with no elected successor.

He was later suspected of involvement in an attack on police headquarters in the southern Haitian city of Les Cayes that killed at least six people. One of the detained gunmen said Philippe had commissioned the assault, which involved some 50 men.

Haitian police issued a warrant for Phillippe’s arrest after the attack in Les Cayes. His lawyers have argued that the warrant was invalid because he was a candidate.

Election to Haiti’s parliament will mean that Philippe will have legal immunity from some but not all criminal proceedings.

Of the 13 preliminary senate election results announced on Sunday, three seats were picked up by Martelly’s Bald Heads Party (PHTK). Philippe, who ran for a coalition of parties, campaigned with Jovenel Moise, PHTK’s pick for president and the winner of the presidential elections.