The fragile agreement reached to lead the transition is going through a moment of major tumult
On April 25, 2024, nine political figures, some wearing stern looks, stand in front of the lenses of journalists’ cameras, at the Villa d’Accueil de Bourdon.
After triumphantly taking the oath of office at the Presidential Palace, despite opposition from the gangs, the members of the new Presidential Council showed themselves to the world, as a collective, ready to face the major challenges of the transition.
Photo clearly showing 8 of the 9 members constituting the presidential council. | April 25, 2024.
The appearance of cohesion had created surprise. But it was just that, an appearance…probably.
Because five days later, the united front exploded, giving way to what some within the process call “a coup” of four groupings, seizing “without a vote” the presidency of the Council, and the choice of ‘a Prime Minister.
The affair had something solemn when this Tuesday, at the Villa d’Accueil, a member of the Council Frinel Joseph, announced that Edgard Leblanc Fils, co-founder of the “Oganizasyon Pèp K ap Lite” party, was to take over the presidency of the structure. following an agreement reached between four of the seven members with voting rights.
And to everyone’s surprise, Joseph also announced the choice of Fritz Bélizaire, a former minister, as the next head of government, also supported by the bloc of four.
These choices come from an agreement between the collective of political parties of January 30, close to former president Michel Martelly, the Bloc EDE-RED & Compromis composed in particular of former executives of the government of Jovenel Moïse, the Pitit Dessalines party having made choice of Prime Minister according to a source, as well as the Agreement of December 21, supported by supporters of the resigned government of Ariel Henry.
Contrary to the announcements, “there was no vote, it is unacceptable for us,” a source involved in the process insists to AyiboPost. “It is a pie-sharing carried out by four sectors and their advisors, which contravenes the political agreement signed between us. »
At least since the assassination of former President Jovenel Moïse in July 2021, Haiti has been legally navigating troubled waters.
Ariel Henry, chosen as Prime Minister by the late head of state, had not completed the formalities to take office at the time of the assassination. He will be propelled to the reins of the country by the CORE group, an informal coalition of diplomats accredited in Haiti under the leadership of the United States.
The Prime Minister’s international supporters abandoned him in February, on the sidelines of a major gang attack in Port-au-Prince, against state infrastructure.
Early next month, a political agreement was reached to create a Presidential Council of nine members, seven of whom have voting rights. These members are chosen by political groups with often antagonistic interests, ideologies, and supporters.
The so-called April 3 agreement, found on the sidelines of negotiations led by the Caribbean Community, requires that the Prime Minister be appointed in consultation, on the basis of a list of one name submitted by each of the sectors not exceeding a total of fifteen applications.
The announcement of the choice of Fritz Belizaire appears to contravene the requirements of the Agreement. “There was an effort to find a consensus between the stakeholders, but the coalition around Edgard Leblanc engaged in a political coup,” another source directly involved in the process told AyiboPost.
The already fragile consensus is wavering. The majority coalition brings together relatives of former President Michel Martelly, under sanction from Canada for financing gangs, supporters as well as former opponents of Ariel Henry’s government.
A member of one of the groups contacted by AyiboPost requests the complete resumption of the process, “in compliance with the Agreement”. Another considers the communication of the Prime Minister’s name premature and “inadmissible”. It is unclear whether an agreement will be reached, or whether the three voting members who feel excluded will resign — jeopardizing the very survival of the initiative.
“The council has just made its first misstep,” believes Pierre Esperance. The executive director of the National Human Rights Defense Network criticizes announcements made outside of a formal modification of the April 3 Agreement. “It’s like you have a council with four members,” says the human rights defender.
The new majority promises to hand over power to those elected in the next elections on February 7, 2026. “We believe in the council. The first important thing for us is cohesion between us,” declared Edgard Leblanc Fils, in an improvised speech this Tuesday, at the Villa d’Accueil.
AyiboPost obtained a document entitled “Constitution of an Indissoluble Majority Bloc (BMI) within the Presidential Council” signed yesterday April 29 by representatives of the group of four.
According to this document, the new majority takes its decisions by consensus “or failing that by a majority of three out of four” concerning the election of the President of the Council, the appointment of the Prime Minister, the constitution of a unity government national, the establishment of the Provisional Electoral Council and the assurance of the success of the transition mission. A charter on the operation of the bloc will be developed in the future, according to the signatories.
It is unclear whether a dissident member of the “indissoluble” bloc can vote in certain cases with the rest of the Council.
This article will be updated.
Par Widlore Mérancourt, Whetzer Piercin et Jerome Wendy Norestyl
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