Port-Au-Prince, November 5 (teleSUR-RHC)-- Haitian Prime Minister Evans Paul rejected criticisms of the elections held on October 25 in the Caribbean country and defended the country's democratic system amid accusations of electoral fraud by some candidates.

“The government is going to respect the results … The result will be a reflection of the people's will,” Paul told teleSUR in an exclusive interview.

Seven presidential candidates have petitioned the country's electoral authority, known as the CEP, to create an independent commission to investigate alleged irregularities. In a letter to the CEP, candidates claimed there were “cases of massive fraud.”

Two leading candidates, Jude Celestin and Moise Jean-Charles, were among those who signed the letter.

Paul rejected accusations of fraud, saying “only the least popular candidates are those who discredit the electoral process.”

Pascal Denis, head of Jude Celestin's campaign, maintained there was fraud, telling teleSUR, “Those in power always commit a fraud, the electoral council is not independent.”
  
Preliminary results were expected on Tuesday, however the electoral authority said in a press conference that results would be released on Thursday.

The CEP said it would spend extra time investigating the numerous fraud complaints received during and after the vote in order to guarantee transparency.