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 The Feb. 5, 2016
Accord made between
then President Michel Martelly and Senate president
Jocelerme Privert went into effect on Feb. 14 and was
due to expire on Jun. 14, 2016.The agreement had foreseen that "the mandate of
the temporary President is up to 120 days from the date
of installation. Where appropriate, the National
Assembly shall take any necessary measures." In other
words, a joint session of Haiti’s upper and lower houses
(i.e. National Assembly) could extend the term of the
president or oust him.
Already, Privert had offered
his interpretation
of the agreement, saying: "As long as the elections are
not conducted, the Feb. 5 Accord retains all its
validity." New elections are scheduled to start in
October 2016 and finish in January 2017.
By default, the extension of Privert’s mandate is
what came to pass. At the opening of the second regular
session of Haiti’s 50th Legislature on Jun.
13, the National Assembly did not take up the case of
challenging or renewing President Privert’s mandate
despite a proposal signed by 53 deputies that he remain
in power until an elected president succeeds him on Feb.
7, 2017 to prevent the country from plunging into deeper
political instability. The proposal was presented by
Deputy Antoine Rodon Bien-Aimé. As a result, the status
quo continues.
In the Senate, Privert already had the support of
a majority: 12 out of 22 senators.
Furthermore, the provisional president has the
support of an important segment of Haiti’s political
class and people. On Jun. 13 and 14, thousands of
demonstrators took to the streets to call for the head
of state to continue his mandate until elections are
completed.
In the capital, the Jun. 14 demonstration began
as usual in front of the ruins of former President
Jean-Bertrand Aristide’s church St. Jean Bosco. Most of
the demonstrators were partisans of Aristide’s Lavalas
Family party (FL) and called for Privert to stay in
office to ensure the new electoral schedule
laid out last week
out by the new Provisional Electoral Council (CEP).
“The Lavalas Family wants to participate in the
upcoming elections,” said party spokesman and former
senator Louis Gérald Gilles. “Now is the time for
political stability, which will help to ensure the
holding of the upcoming electoral contests in the
country.”
Gilles said that FL presidential candidate Dr.
Maryse Narcisse had already visited the CEP to confirm
her participation in the first-round of the new
elections scheduled for Oct. 9, 2016.
Demonstrators said that President Privert’s
departure would destabilize Haiti just when the national
currency, the gourde, is beginning to end its free-fall
and insecurity seems to be abating. So this is no time
for “another transition in the transition,” the
demonstrators said.
Meanwhile, in recent days, forces allied to
former right-wing President Martelly had been
demonstrating for Privert to be replaced on Jun. 14.
Leaders of Martelly’s Haitian Bald Headed Party (PHTK),
former Prime Minister Evans Paul’s
Democratic United Committee (KID), and Martelly’s
former adopted party Peasant Response formed an
opposition front called the “Democratic Agreement” (ED)
and launched an operation called “Depose.”
“When you are not composed, you are discomposed;
when you are discomposed, they depose you,” announce
Evans Paul.
Anti-Privert forces had called for a "patriotic" vigil
and candle-light march in the streets of the capital,
what the pro-Privert forces called a "zombie" event.
However, foreseeing mischief and possible violence, the
Interior Ministry announced a 9 p.m. curfew, and the
police have closed many streets, especially those
leading to the central square in front of the National
Palace, which is under close guard and tight security.
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