Transitional Presidential Council: A Solution for Haiti's Political Crisis?

After years of political instability and a recent surge in gang violence, Haiti has taken a step toward restoring governance by forming a transitional presidential council. In April 2024, a decree established the 9-member council, which is tasked with leading the nation until elections can be held.

The council's formation comes after Prime Minister Ariel Henry, who had led an interim government since President Jovenel Moïse's assassination in 2021, announced he would transfer power to a transitional body. Henry formally submitted his resignation on June 1, 2024, paving the way for the council to take over executive responsibilities.

According to the decree, the primary mandates of the presidential council are to:

• Appoint a new prime minister and cabinet to run state affairs.
• Create an "impartial" provisional electoral council.
• Define a credible roadmap for holding overdue presidential and parliamentary elections.

The council comprises seven voting members from various political parties, civil society groups, and the private sector. Its members are Smith Augustin, Emmanuel Vertilaire, Louis Gérald Gilles, Edgard Leblanc Fils, Leslie Voltaire, Fritz Jean, and Laurent St-Cyr.

Two additional non-voting observers, including religious leader Frinel Joseph and Regine Abraham, were also appointed to the council.

The decree stipulates the council will exercise certain powers of the presidency until a newly elected head of state can be sworn in by the firm deadline of February 7, 2026. At that point, the transitional council is mandated to dissolve.

The council's primary challenge will be addressing the security vacuum that has allowed powerful gangs to run rampant, blocking key transportation routes and access to food, water, and aid. Gang blockades have effectively cut off the capital, Port-au-Prince, from the outside world in recent months, exacerbating hunger and prompting emergency evacuations of foreign personnel.

Beyond restoring order, the council must rebuild public trust and democratic legitimacy after years of postponed elections and interim governments with no direct electoral mandates.

The international community, including the Caribbean regional bloc CARICOM, which assisted in the council's formation, has expressed guarded optimism that the body can be a step toward political normalization - if it follows through on expediting fair elections.

Only time will tell if the transitional council can navigate Haiti's daunting mix of security, humanitarian, and democratic crises. But its ability to build consensus and faithfully uphold its electoral commitments will be vital for the nation's path forward.

Here is a summary of the key points about Haiti's new transitional presidential council:

Overview:

• A 9-member council formed in April 2024 to govern Haiti until elections can be held by the February 2026 deadline.
• It comprises seven voting members from different political/civil society groups and two non-voting observers.
• The mandate is to appoint a new prime minister/cabinet, prepare for elections, and exercise some presidential powers.

Leadership:

• Initially led by Edgard Leblanc Fils, but divisions emerged.
• Now has a rotating 5-month presidency among voting members to avoid deadlock.
• Important decisions require 5 out of 7 majority votes.

Authority:

• Will select a prime minister to run day-to-day government operations.
• The Council itself sets the overall political roadmap and electoral timeline.
• It has no legal ability to extend its interim mandate beyond February 2026.

Challenges:

• Restoring security from powerful gangs.
• Rebuilding democratic legitimacy after years of unelected leadership.
• Overcoming internal rifts and skepticism about its motivations.

Creole translation:

Konsèy Tranzisyonèl Prezidansyèl: Yon Solisyon Pou Kriz Politik Ayiti?

Aprè anpil tan enstabilite politk ak ogmantasyon nan vyolans gang dènyèman, Ayiti pran yon etap pou retabli gouvènans li a travè fòmasyon yon Konsèy Tranzisyonèl Prezidansyèl. Nan mwa Avril 2024, yon dekrè te ofisyèlman pibliye pou etabli konsèy sa a ki genyen 9 manm ak misyon pou kondui peyi a jiskaske eleksyon ka fèt.

Fòmasyon konsèy sa a vini aprè Premye Minis Ariel Henry, ki te dirije yon gouvènman pwovizwa depi asasina Prezidan Jovenel Moïse an 2021, te anonse li tapral transfere pouvwa a yon kò tranzisyonèl. Henry te remèt demisyon l ofisyèlman nan Jen 2024, sa ki te ouvè wout pou konsèy la pran responsabilite egzekitif yo.

Selon dekrè a, manda prensipal Konsèy Tranzisyonèl Prezidansyèl la se pou:

• Nonmen yon nouvo premye minis ak kabinè pou jere zafè leta.
• Kreye yon  konsèy eleksyon pwovizwa "enpasyal."
• Defini yon plan kredib pou òganize eleksyon prezidansyèl ak palmantè.

Konsèy la gen 7 manm ak dwa vòt. Manm sa yo soti nan divès pati politk, gwoup sosyete sivil, ak sektè prive. Konsèy la gen ladan: Smith Augustin, Emmanuel Vertilaire, Louis Gérald Gilles, Edgard Leblanc Fils, Leslie Voltaire, Fritz Jean, ak Laurent St-Cyr.

De lòt obsèvatè san dwa vòt, lidè relije Frinel Joseph ak Regine Abraham, te nonmen tou nan konsèy la.

Dekrè a espesifye konsèy la pral egzèse kèk pouvwa prezidansyèl yo jiskaske genyen yon nouvo prezidan eli, pa pita ke Fevriye 2026. Apre sa, konsèy tranzisyonèl la gen obligasyon pou kraze.

Defi prensipal konsèy la pral gen rapò ak abòde manl sekirite a ki pèmèt gang pisan yo fè vyolans, bloke wout transpò prensipal yo ak aksè a manje, dlo ak èd. Blokis gang yo vinn koz Port-au-Prince, kapital, koupe avèk rès peyi a pandan dènye mwa yo. Sa agrave grangou epi fòse evakiasyon dijans pèsonèl etranje.

Anplis de retabli lòd, konsèy la pral bezwen rebati konfyans piblik la ak lejitimite demokrasi a apre anpil ane san eleksyon ak gouvènman pwovizwa ki pa t' genyen mandat elektoral dirèk.

Kominote entènasyonal la, pami yo blòk rejyonal Karayib lan, CARICOM, ki te ede nan fòmasyon konsèy la, te eksprime yon optimis avèk rezerv ke kò sa a kapab yon etap vè nòmalizasyon politik - si l swiv angajman l' pou l òganize eleksyon jis.

Se sèlman tan k'ap di si Konsèy Tranzisyonèl la kapab navige melanj pwoblèm sekirite, imanitè ak kriz demokrasi Ayiti genyen yo. Men kapasite l pou tabli yon konsansis ak kenbe angajman elektoral li yo pral enpòtan pou l detèmine avi peyi a.

Men yon rezime pwen prensipal yo sou nouvo Konsèy Tranzisyonèl Prezidansyèl Ayiti a:

Apèsi Jeneral:

• Yon konsèy 9 manm fòme an Avril 2024 pou gouvène Ayiti jiskaske eleksyon yo fèt 7 Fevriye 2026.
• Konpoze de 7 manm ak dwa vòt soti nan diferan gwoup politik/sosyete sivil, ak 2 obsèvatè san vòt.
• Manda li se nonmen yon nouvo premye minis/kabinè, prepare pou eleksyon, ak egzèse kèk pouvwa prezidansyèl.

Lidèchip:

• Te gen Edgard Leblanc Fils kòm lidè inisyal, men te genyen divizyon.
• Kounye a l' gen yon prezidans rotativ 5 mwa pami manm ak dwa vòt yo pou evite blokaj.
• Desizyon enpòtan yo mande yon majorite 5 sou 7 vòt.

Otorite:

• Yo ap chwazi yon premye minis pou jere operasyon gouvènman an chak jou.
• Konsèy la menm ap detèmine oryantasyon politik jeneral la ak kalandriye eleksyon an.
• Pa gen otorite legal pou l pwolonje manda pwovizwa li apre 7 Fevriye 2026.

Defi:

• Retabli sekirite pou fè fas ak gang puisan yo.
• Rebati lejitimite demokrasi a apre anpil ane san dirijan eli.
• Konbat divizyon entèn ak dout sou motivasyon li yo.

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