Haiti embarks on quest for a new prime minister

Haiti has embarked on the quest for a new prime minister as part of the agreement forged on April 3 this year, marking the genesis of the Presidential Transitional Council (CPT). The CPT is entrusted with the pivotal mission of resolving the political and socio-economic turbulence engulfing the nation.

Earlier in the month, the Fanmi Lavalas political party, led by former president Jean-Bertrand Aristide, issued a stern ultimatum to withdraw from the nine-member CPT unless Fritz Bélizaire was ousted from the prime ministerial role.

Initially, the CPT had designated Bélizaire, a former sports minister, as the country’s prime minister, supplanting Michel Patrick Boisvert, the former minister of economy and finance, who held the interim prime minister position.

However, the Conference of Haitian Pastors (COPAH) strongly denounced what it deemed an “undemocratic approach” and a breach of the April 3rd, 2024 agreement in Bélizaire’s appointment as prime minister.

Nevertheless, the Presidential Communications Office asserted that political parties and organizations subscribing to the April 3rd, 2024 agreement have reached a consensus for the CPT to proceed with soliciting applications for the prime ministerial post, as part of the transitional governance framework. Interested candidates have until May 17 to submit their applications.

According to Article 6 of the political agreement, candidates must be endorsed by the sectors constituting the CPT or aligning with the aforementioned agreement. The application dossier must include a letter of adherence from the respective sector to the agreement.

Among the nine-member CPT, seven possess voting rights, representing parties such as the ‘Pitit Desalin’ party led by Jean-Charles Moïse, the EDE party of former prime minister Charles Joseph, the Fanmi Lavalas party, the December 21 coalition led by Henry, the Montana Accord group, and members of the private sector. Non-voting members include a representative from civil society and another from the interfaith community.

The CPT has already appointed Edgar Leblanc Fils, a seasoned politician and former president of Haiti’s national assembly, as the provisional president.

As per the Presidential Communications Office, candidates vying for the prime ministerial position must commit, through a notarial deed, to furnish certain documents within thirty days after assuming office. These documents include a police clearance certificate from the Central Directorate of Judicial Police (DCPJ) or a criminal record from the Court of First Instance, final income tax declaration, and a declaration of assets certificate.

In March, Kenya and Haiti inked an agreement allowing the former to spearhead a United Nations Security Council-sanctioned Multinational Security Mission (MSS) aimed at reinstating peace and security in Haiti. The UN Security Council had previously authorized the deployment of MSS to bolster Haiti’s embattled police force, with Kenya offering to lead the mission. Additionally, a sanctions regime targeting gang leaders and their financiers, instituted in 2022, was renewed last October. -(CMC)