transition - Haiti Observer Blog

The Miami Herald came out very strong with an editorial written against any possibility for Michel Martelly to remain in power after February 7 or to be involved in any transitional government. According to the editorial, "despite an unrelieved record of failure, Mr. Martelly suggested last week that he could prolong his tenure if no consensus for moving forward emerges". "The way forward is uncertain", according to the article. "But one thing is clear: President Michel Martelly must step down when his term expires on Feb. 7"

"Haiti's people have already paid too dearly for Mr. Martelly's disrespect for constitutional order and inept management. He never understood the notion of compromise, nor did he ever try to forge a national political consensus to make the most of the aid provided by the international community to recover from a 2010 earthquake. Whatever was good for "Sweet Micky" was good for Haiti, or so he seemed to believe.

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Evans Paul confirmed Martelly' departure on February 7. President Michel Martelly has exactly 11 days left before leaving office. In an interview given to a Venezuelan television network, Prime Minister once again confirmed that the president will not stay after this date as stated in the constitution. He also explained that there are several options in discussion between various actors to determine how the country is going to be governed after February 7th.

Will the next president of Haiti be:
- the current judge from Court of Cassation Jules Cantave,
- the president of the Senate Jocelerme Privert
- or Prime Minister Evans Paul

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It was quite a shift but finally the American Government has made a 90 degree turn to now support the creation of a Transitional Government. According to information obtained, the American Government is now leaning toward a transitional government that will replace the Martelly government on February 7. The United States' Haiti Special Coordinator Kenneth Merten is considering a new Provisional Government for a short period of time. Any decision at this time will have opposition. Some supporters of the Government wants him to stay in power until May 14 in order to supervise the election run-off; however, the core opposition group does no believe that the actual government has any credibility to hold election

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When eight losing presidential candidates (G8) including seven of ten vote getters, representing 49.81% of the vote, could not convince the CEP to form an independent commission of inquiry to inquire and assess the alleged frauds affecting the integrity of the October 25th election, they gave their ultimatum.

They (G 8) are of opinion that no honest, transparent and credible election is possible under the presidency of Joseph Michel Martelly in conjunction with the functioning CEP (Provisional Electoral Council) along with the support of present Police Nationale d'Haïti (PNH). These eight losing eight candidates (G8) have demanded a transitional government which would be empowered to adopt a new constitution with various reforms needed to organize a credible election within next two years. These eight candidates (G8) are: Jude Celestin, Jean Charles Moise, Samuel Madistin, Sauveur Pierre Etienne, Eric Jean Baptiste, Steven Benoit, Jean Henry Ceant and Mario Andresol.

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