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Haiti: Political drama as parliament is dissolved – no agreement on legislative elections
For weeks, opponents to Martelly have mounted street protests in the capital accusing the president and his family of corruption.
On Monday, Haiti marked the fifth anniversary of a devastating earthquake that killed tens of thousands of people in the capital.
On Sunday, with negotiations were still underway to avoid an institutional vacuum, a number of implementing partners, including the United Nations issued a statement offering their support to Martelly.
In a weekend interview with Reuters, Evans Paul said he had to work on securing the trust of the international community. “It’s not easy because the crisis of confidence is based on a tradition of people not keeping to their word.”
The country’s political divisions have led to a “chaotic atmosphere,” he said in an interview at the prime minister’s official residence late on Saturday as street protests continued.
It is unclear when new legislative and municipal elections can be held.
A tentative agreement late last month would have extended the terms of the deputies until April 24, and senators until September 9, allowing time to pass an electoral law and appoint an elections council.
The political accord had been favorably received by Haiti’s implementing partners, particularly the UN, which have expressed concern that the country is again on the brink of political chaos.
Haiti is scheduled to hold presidential elections at the end of the year.
Source: Reuters
