Haiti: Moïse names Jean Michel Lapin acting prime minister

AFP | Haiti’s President Jovenel Moïse on Thursday named a new acting prime minister, Jean-Michel Lapin, after lawmakers voted to censure his predecessor’s 6 month old government.

Lapin, the culture and communications minister, was charged with running Haiti’s day-to-day affairs pending the formation of a new government.

The Chamber of Deputies voted Monday to censure the government led by Jean-Henry Céant, which had been the target of deadly street protests.

In February, 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.

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

“To avoid a constitutional embroglio in the country, which needs peace so much, I give you my resignation,” Céant said earlier Thursday in a letter to Moïse.

In the coming days, Moïse will consult with lawmakers about who to ask to form a new government.