ARTICLE - MARTELLY RESPONSE TO JACINTHE

RESPONSE OF MARTELLY TO SOREL JACINTHE
(Haiti Libre) -

Sorel Jacinthe, the President of the Chamber of Deputies declared on Tuesday that "it is the President of the Republic who chooses his Prime Minister in consultation with the presidents of both chambers; so the question of a commission or someone responsible for negotiations is not what the Constitution says". Reacting to this statement the Head of State wished to make a few clarifications :

"...When I was elected; in two days, I had a name for Prime Minister. As soon as they rejected him [the parliamentarians] I had a second name. Even now, I have a name in mind. But what will be the difference if his name comes out of my mouth and I don't have an agreement of principle with the parliamentarians, to ensure us that the Government will be established? This is not a question of divulging a name. It is about finishing the work that we undertake; so that we can secure a majority; a team that is willing to work with the Government. Meanwhile, while we have left to a commission, the responsibility to to meet the parliamentarians; we remain focused on the priorities of the Presidency, which are for example: the rule of law, fair justice, the fight against corruption and the upcoming school year.

Maybe he's right [Sorel Jacinthe]; but the essentials are that when we talk of a negotiation, I can be away and I can delegate a person to continue a discussion that I started or even engage in discussions. The important thing is not that it is unconstitutional or not, the important thing is, that we need to form a Government. We will do everything we can to have a government. It is not provided in the constitution? If you want... I can show you a video where the presidents [of both Houses] admit to being in negotiations with a commission that I had already formed... So why at that time, did they not say that it was unconstitutional?"

Senator Edwin Zenny, confirmed the existence of negotiations in Parliament and said that he shares the decision of Mr. Martelly to take time to reflect with his team prior to officially announcing the designation of a new Prime Minister. According to the senator, the name of the new candidate could be known this weekend; however, it is necessary to remember that the last prediction of the Senator and friend of President Martelly, [before the tour of Martelly in Chile], had proved unfounded...

The rumor of the day, to take with all the usual caveats on the next possible candidate for the Prime Minister's Office, suggests that this could be Wilson Laleau, former university rector...