Haiti: Privert announces new government

Weeks after taking power as Haiti’s interim leader, Jocelerme Privert on Tuesday, March 8, announced the makeup of his 15-member government tasked with organizing elections to break the political impasse.

Privert took office last month after the departure of President Michel Martelly, who left without a successor after a vote to choose his replacement was postponed.

Within his mandate, Privert is due to see to the end an electoral process that was interrupted in January.

According to a list made public early Tuesday, Prime Minister Fritz-Alphonse Jean – an economist and former Central Bank governor from 1998 to 2001 – will also take on the role of interior and national defense minister. Jean, who faces some opposition, is due to present himself and the members of the government before parliament this week.

Privert and his new government have fewer than 90 days to organize a second round of presidential elections, partial legislative elections and local elections.

According to an agreement signed on February 6 between Privert and Martelly, a new elected Haitian leader is to be inaugurated on May 14.