The Council of Ministers has just published the decree creating the Presidential Council. The members of the said Council will rule the country for two years and must install a new President from the polls on February 7, 2026. A provision welcomed by CARICOM, leader of this controversial approach.
A first round has just been completed. The long-awaited decree has finally seen the light of day. The Presidential Council is created and their term limits set. This provision was made in the Council of Ministers published in the official journal of the Republic, Le Moniteur, on April 12, 2024. Notwithstanding, the sectors represented in the Presidential Council must still wait since the decree did not name the members constituting this council . Another order will be required to complete this process. The resigning government asks all members of the Council to submit their documents for evaluation to ensure that they meet the requirements of article 135 of the Haitian constitution.
According to the decree, the Council is made up of nine members including two observers without the right to vote. These personalities, specifies the document, must not be in contravention of justice, nor be subject to sanctions by the UN, nor take part in the next elections, even less oppose the arrival of the UN mission in Haiti. . This council must complete another two years until February 7, 2026.
Among other prerogatives of the Council, he participates in agreement with the Prime Minister in the constitution of the new ministerial cabinet. He must approve the agenda of the Council of Ministers. It must set the criteria for selecting members of the Provisional Electoral Council (CEP). He must take all measures for a peaceful transition. It must ensure the continuity of governance and establish a National Security Council. The decree also emphasizes the efforts that the Council must make for the deployment of the international support mission.
Further, the Council has the urgent responsibility to nominate and appoint the new Prime Minister. The members constituting the Council are subject to asset declaration formalities. The mandate of the said council cannot be extended, specifies article 10 of the decree. The next article also prohibits councilors from running in future elections.
Following the publication of this decree, CARICOM applauds the Government for this progress while ensuring that it supports the political agreement.
At the same time, in Haiti, heavy gunfire was heard almost everywhere in the capital, burning tires were noticed at Delmas near the airport intersection, immediately after the announcement of the publication of this decree. The hundreds of organizations and socio-political platforms which continue to demand a judge from the court of cassation at the head of the country are very furious with this presidential decree and they are announcing the color in the days to come. This presidential council project does not enjoy good press in the majority of Haitian communities to date.
Considering that there are several aspects considered a little contradictory in this presidential decree, in the opinion of several experts contacted by our newspaper, the resigning government maintains control of the government until the appointment of a new Prime Minister. He or she will have the task of installing the Presidential Council in turn and forming the ministerial cabinet which will be in charge of the government.
In this context and depending on the substance and form of this decree, can we really speak of a Presidential Council or rather of a revised and modified HCT or even a new council of wise men?
