THE successor to Haiti’s outgoing president looks set to win the election after the first round, preliminary results suggested yesterday.

The results of the November 20 elections gave Tet Kale party candidate Jovenel Moise 55.6 per cent of the vote, leading his nearest competitor by more than 25 points — both criteria for avoiding a run-off.

But the result must now be approved by the electoral tribunal, where parties may contest the result before the final declaration on December 29.

Twice-ousted former president Bertrand Aristide’s Fanmi Lavalas party candidate Maryse Narcisse came fifth with just 8.9 per cent of the vote.

Thousands of her supporters protested in the capital Port-au-Prince, decrying the early announcement of the result which they called fraudulent.

Before he was chosen to succeed former president Michel Martelly, Mr Moise ran a banana plantation in the north of Haiti.

He also led in last year’s election that was rerun after allegations of widespread fraud sparked riots.