Haiti: Jean-Michel Lapin confirmed as new prime minister

AFP | Haiti’s President Jovenel Moïse today confirmed Jean-Michel Lapin in his post as the country’s new prime minister, just weeks after the Chamber of Deputies censured his predecessor’s 6-month-old government.

The new administration that Lapin – currently the acting prime minister – must assemble with Moïse will face pressing problems such as the high cost of living and the insecurity that plagues the capital.

Haiti is still recovering from widespread riots in February, when thousands of people took to the streets across the country to demand better living conditions and the departure of the head of state.

For about 11 days, all activities ground to a halt in Port-au-Prince and across most of the Caribbean country’s cities.

Lapin, the former culture and communications minister, was named acting prime minister on March 21, 3 days after the Chamber of Deputies voted to censure the government of former prime minister Jean-Henry Céant.

Lawmakers overwhelmingly voted for Céant’s resignation, saying he had failed to improve conditions in the six months since he took over at the head of government.

Lapin is the 3rd head of government under president Moïse, who has led the Caribbean island-nation since February 2017.

The announcement was made by Moïse via Twitter, and will be formalized by presidential decree later in the day.

The installation of a new government is an International Monetary Fund pre-requisite for the disbursement of the first tranche of a US$229 million loan to Haiti.

In 2018, Haiti racked up a record US$290 million deficit, while its national budget, the lowest in the Caribbean region, amounts to US$1.8 billion.