Haiti: UN and partners warn against ‘institutional vacuum,’ call for return to constitutional order

The United Nations and its partners in Haiti have today expressed concern that as the provisional president's agreed 120-day mandate has come to end, “no measures have been taken to ensure institutional continuity” in the island nation, where several key deadlines regarding the political transition process have been missed.

In a joint press statement he Special Representative of the Secretary-General in Haiti, Sandra Honoré, and the other members of the international community in Haiti represented in the "Core Group" (the Ambassadors of Brazil, Canada, France, Spain, the United States and the European Union, and the Special Representative of the Organization of American States) took note of the opening of the second ordinary session of Parliament in accordance with the Constitution.

“The Core Group expresses concern that no measures have been taken to ensure institutional continuity beyond 13 June as provided for in the 5 February Agreement,” said the press statement.

On 14 February, the Haitian National Assembly elected Jocelerme Privert as the island nation’s interim President, one week after former President Michel Martelly departed without a successor.

Mr. Privert served as interim President for 120 days, and an election had been scheduled for 24 April, following an agreement – known as the 5 February Agreement – between Haitian stakeholders to preserve institutional continuity and further the electoral process.

Subsequently, on 25 April, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s spokesperson issued a statement underlining the UN chief’s deep concern that that the agreed upon date for holding elections in Haiti was not met and that no alternate electoral calendar was announced.

As Mr. Privert’s 120-day interim period has come to an end, the Core Group statement today called on the National Assembly to take action and reach a solution which avoids an “institutional vacuum,” and facilitate the return to constitutional order through the holding of elections without further delay.

The Group urged all actors, political parties, candidates and their supporters and others to maintain calm and to refrain from violence.