The Haitian government on Friday announced a decree formally directing the creation of a nine-member Presidential Transition Council tasked with selecting the next prime minister and cabinet.
The decree, published in Le Moniteur Gazette a month after Prime Minister Ariel Henry announced he would step down, calls on the council to “participate in the creation of an inclusive cabinet of ministers, with the consent of the Prime Minister.” ing.
The council said it needed to elect a new prime minister “quickly” but did not set an exact deadline. The decree stipulates that the council's headquarters be located at the National Palace in downtown Port-au-Prince.
The first step to restoring security
The long-delayed move is seen as a first step toward bringing security to the Caribbean country, where much of the capital is under the control of criminal gangs.
The establishment of the council is also an important step towards holding presidential elections by early 2026. The council's mandate is to end when the new president takes office, with no possibility of extension.
But questions remain about whether the U.S.-backed transitional government will be able to impose its authority on the gangs that control much of Port-au-Prince.
CARICOM welcomes this decree
“The establishment of a politically inclusive council signals the possibility of a new beginning for Haiti,” the Caribbean trading bloc known as CARICOM, which helped establish the council, said in a statement. .
“Through elections, we will lead this troubled country to the restoration of its broken state institutions and constitution,” the council said.
The creation of the council comes exactly one month after Caribbean leaders announced plans to give seven members voting rights to help form a nine-member panel. It was done a day later.
Haitian gangs are a long-term phenomenon
Brian Concannon from the Haitian Institute for Justice and Democracy told DW that the creation of the council does not mean that gangs in Haiti will disappear in the near future.
Concannon said the gang phenomenon in Haiti, like many other countries without effective governments, is a long-term phenomenon.
“In the long term, eradicating gangs means providing basic government services, and it won't happen overnight,” the expert said.
However, Concannon said the goal of holding elections in Haiti in 2026 is realistic, adding: “But we will know in the coming weeks and months whether this is a confidence in the Haitian government. ”.
dh/sms (AP, AFP, Reuters)
