Haiti begins search for new prime minister

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (CMC) — Haiti on Monday began the search for a new prime minister in keeping with the agreement reached on April 3 this year, allowing for the establishment of the Transitional Presidential Council (CPT) that is tasked with ending the political and socio-economic crisis in the French-speaking Caribbean Community country.

Earlier this month, the Fanmi Lavalas political party of former president Jean Bertrand Aristide had threatened to withdraw from the nine-member CPT, if Fritz Bélizaire was not removed as prime minister.

The CPT had earlier named Belizaire, a former sports minister as the country’s prime minister replacing Michel Patrick Boisvert, the former minister of economy and finance who was interim prime minister.

The Conference of Haitian Pastors (COPAH) has also “strongly” criticised what it described as the “undemocratic approach and the violation of the agreement of April 3, 2024” in the appointment of Belizaire as prime minister.

But according to the Communications Office of the Presidency, political parties as well as other organisations adhering to the political agreement for a peaceful and orderly transition of April 3, 2024, in particular, agree for the CPT to proceed with the official opening of applications for the post of prime minister, as part of the establishment of transition governance.

Candidates have until May 17 to submit documents for the position in a sealed envelope.

In accordance with article 6 of the political agreement, candidates must be presented by the sectors forming the CPT or adhering to said agreement. Candidates’ documents must be accompanied by a letter of adhesion from the sector to the agreement in question, the Communications Office noted.

Seven of the nine-member CPT have voting rights. They include the ‘Pitit Desalin’ party headed by Jean-charles Moise, 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.

The non-voting members are represented by one member from civil society and one member of the interfaith community.

The CPT has already named Edgar Leblanc Fils, 68, a veteran politician and former president of Haiti’s national assembly, as provisional president.

According to the Communications Office of the Presidency, “with reference to articles 51, 52 and 52.1 of the Agreement of April 3, 2024 and given the urgency of establishing the transitional executive power, (prime ministerial) candidates must commit by notarial deed to submit, no later than 30 days after the installation of the prime minister, the following documents, under penalty of sanctions in accordance with the law: a police certificate issued by the Central Directorate of Judicial Police (DCPJ) or a criminal record issued by the Court of First Instance (TPI; final income tax declaration and a certificate of Declaration of Assets”.

In March, Kenya and Haiti signed an agreement that would allow the African country to lead a United Nations Security Council sanctioned Multinational Security Mission (MSS) to restore peace and security in Haiti.

Last October, the UN Security Council authorised the deployment of the MSS to back Haiti’s beleaguered police force, which Kenya offered to lead. A 2022 sanctions regime, targeting gang leaders and their financiers, was also renewed.