ARTICLE - GOVERNABILITY = POLITICAL PLURALISM

A PACT OF GOVERNABILITY, COMPATIBLE WITH POLITICAL PLURALISM
(Haiti Libre) -

In Haiti from December 19-20, 2011, members of the Club of Madrid, for their 6th mission, meet with representatives of the legislature, executive and judiciary, representatives of local authorities, civil society, private sector and political parties; with the aim to understand their concerns and proposals. In an interview, Lionel Jospin, former Prime Minister of France, now in his third visit to Haiti, explains that the idea of a pact of governability, is not incompatible with political pluralism.

"...the idea of the pact is entirely compatible with political pluralism, which is a reality of political life in Haiti. Churches have their roles, the private business community are independent of the state, trade unions have their duties vis-à-vis their constituents, legislative power lies in its prerogatives, the President himself wants to be respected in his functions. He was popularly elected by a large majority. No one stands for himself, but perhaps each power should not push through, their own sense of power. It's in the respect of each other, in the respect of the commitments made, that is the strength of any pact...

[...] ...I think that the actors of the Haitian political, social and cultural life [...] know ultimately how we operate. They know that we respect what they profoundly want. We help with dialogue to a movement, that they will manage and implement...

[...] I feel that things have progressed through the work, and the activity of the Haitian people from different sectors, thanks to government action with assistance from the international community, including the contribution of the Interim Commission for the Reconstruction of Haiti [IHRC] [...] A question is asked today about the status of the IHRC and it is clear, that one day a Haitian agency will have to take matters into hand. Similarly, it is necessary that all the efforts that are made ​​by the international community, is integrated into the priorities of the Haitian authorities. I feel that considerable progress has been made, but there remains immense challenges [...] we must not relax our efforts...

[...] It seems that the different actors of Haitian society and the Haitian authorities, are advancing themselves in the idea of a pact of working together. We [the Club of Madrid] contribute to this spirit of dialogue that visibly grows in Haiti...

[...] The idea of ​​consensus, for me, does not mean that politicians and legitimate institutions, renounce their beliefs, but that they are looking for ways to work together. The legislative power and the executive [...], in moments like this, several significant examples of such pacts or coalitions, which go in the direction of the general interest..." in the countries of the Club of Madrid.

About the Club de MadridThe Club de Madrid is an independent non‐profit organization composed of 80 democratic former Presidents and Prime Ministers from 56 different countries, constituting the world’s largest forum of former Heads of State and Government, who have come together to respond to a growing demand for support among leaders in two key areas: democratic leadership and governance; and response to crisis and post‐crisis situations. Both lines of work share the common goal of addressing the challenge of democratic governance and political conflict as well as that of building functional and inclusive societies, where the leadership experience of our Members is most valuable.