Sweet success for Micky

By P.B. | PORT-AU-PRINCE

AFTER weeks of rumours and diplomatic pressure, Haiti's electoral council announced yesterday that it had booted the ruling party's man, Jude Celestin, from the presidential race, and replaced him with a popular political outsider, Michel Martelly (pictured). The delayed run-off vote, now scheduled for March 20th, will pit Mr Martelly, formerly a wild-child musician known as Sweet Micky, against Mirlande Manigat, a constitutional scholar and former first lady who appeals to middle-class voters. The outcome of the election remains highly uncertain, since no public polls have yet been conducted on the new second-round matchup. Nonetheless, the decision has restored a modicum of calm and security to the country. “It's a good day in Haiti again,” the United States ambassador, Kenneth Merten, said yesterday.