The majority of Haiti’s transition council, which had previously nominated an interim prime minister earlier in the week, has reversed course, revealing internal discord within the group entrusted with guiding the Caribbean nation through a prolonged crisis.
Late on Wednesday, four out of the council’s seven voting members issued a statement announcing their decision to revert to the original agreement of selecting a prime minister from a pool of applicants, rescinding their previous choice of former official Fritz Belizaire for the position.
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Haiti has faced numerous challenges to its political and social stability in recent years, including a presidential assassination and a devastating earthquake, leading to a power vacuum increasingly dominated by armed gangs vying for control.
The level of violence in the country has escalated significantly in recent months, with United Nations data indicating that more than one person is killed in gang-related violence every hour during the first three months of this year.
Despite expectations for a public vote to determine both the prime minister and the head of the council, no such vote took place after the majority bloc within the council unilaterally selected Belizaire as prime minister, with former Senate leader Edgard Leblanc chosen to lead the council.
The four members who reversed their decision on the prime minister nomination identify themselves as the “Indissoluble Majority Bloc,” and as of yesterday afternoon, they had not nominated a potential replacement.
Meanwhile, the Montana Accord group, represented on the council, has proposed a rotating council presidency. Fritz Jean, the group’s representative, stated in a radio interview on Thursday that disagreements persist regarding the council president’s role, with some advocating for it to act as interim president of the nation.
In addition to selecting a prime minister, the council is tasked with forming a cabinet and establishing a provisional electoral authority to pave the way for Haiti’s first elections since 2016. A vote for a new president is anticipated by early 2026.
