Haiti Prime Minister-designate.,Laurent Lamothe. PHOTO/File

Haiti’s Senate late Tuesday approved the nomination of Laurent Lamothe to become the new prime minister of the earthquake-ravaged nation, a parliamentary source said.

Lamothe, who was tapped for the position by President Michel Martelly after the resignation of Gary Conille in February, must still win the approval of the Chamber of Deputies.

The Senate vote was held late Tuesday after a long debate and was announced by Senate President Simon Dieuseul Desras. Lamothe’s candidacy was approved 19-3, with one abstention.

In Haiti, the prime minister is appointed by the president and mainly serves as cabinet chief.

Lamothe’s appointment and the formation of a new government, however, could still take months, as Martelly does not have a majority in parliament.

Lamothe received a political sciences degree from Barry University in Miami and also earned an MBA at St Thomas University in Florida. Known as a keen sportsman, he played tennis for Haiti in the Davis Cup.

He became foreign minister in Martelly’s government in October last year.

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