RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – Haiti inaugurated on Tuesday, July 20, a new government, thirteen days after the assassination of President Jovenel Moise, with the promise to reach out to the opposition to find a way out of the deep crisis in which the country is immersed.
Ariel Henry, a respected neurosurgeon, officially assumed on Tuesday the post of Prime Minister, from which he will control all the levers of power in Haiti, given that there are no plans to appoint an interim head of state; neither will he have the counterweight of a Parliament, since it has been closed since January 2020.
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The new Prime Minister was appointed to the post by Moise through a decree signed last July 5, but the assassination, which occurred two days later, frustrated his investiture and left the government in the hands of his predecessor, Claude Joseph, opening an unprecedented power struggle.
This dispute between the two prime ministers was resolved yesterday, when Joseph announced his resignation, just two days after the United Nations and foreign powers such as the United States and France took sides and gave their explicit support to the man chosen by Moïse.
OPPOSITION MISGIVINGS
In his inauguration speech, Henry assured that his government, composed of 18 ministers, is a cabinet “of consensus” and “inclusive”, since it includes some figures from the opposition, as well as technicians and personalities from civil society.
However, the most important portfolios, such as Justice, Economy, and Foreign Affairs, will be headed by their current incumbents, in the latter case, the former Prime Minister Claude Joseph.
This circumstance, added to the international support for Henry, has fueled the opposition’s misgivings towards the new government, and there have even been calls for protests by some left-wing forces.
A commission bringing together numerous civil society groups, which have held meetings in recent days to provide solutions to the crisis, has also dissociated itself from the new government.
“The civil society commission has nothing to do with the formation of the government. It does not emerge from any consensus with civil society actors who are united to find a Haitian solution to the crisis. The individuals in that cabinet represent nothing more than themselves,” said a statement from the group.
OFFER OF DIALOGUE
In an attempt to iron out the differences, Henry filled his speech with offers of “sincere and frank” dialogue directed towards the opposition and civil society, and also with invitations to “unity” to overcome what he described as a “critical” moment.
The solution to this crisis, he stressed, “must involve all Haitians” and must necessarily involve the organization of elections, although he did not speak of deadlines for this appointment with the polls.
“We do not pretend to solve all the problems, but with the democrats, we can create the conditions for the organization of elections”, he affirmed.
With the elections in mind, he promised that one of his main tasks will be to reestablish order and security in the country, which for months has been going through a serious crime wave.
BEGINNING OF THE FUNERAL HONORS
The investiture of the new Executive overlapped with the beginning of the funeral honors for the assassinated president, who will be buried next Friday in his family tomb, in the city of Cap-Haitien, in the north of the country.
The first official act of mourning took place on Tuesday in Port-au-Prince and was attended by all members of the outgoing and incoming governments. The widow, Martine Moise, who returned to the country last weekend, did not attend the official ceremony.
The ceremony featured music, dance, a few words from a priest, and speeches, including that of Claude Joseph, who referred to Moïse as a “friend”.
A wake and mass will be held on Thursday at Cap-Haitien, and the funeral and burial will take place on Friday.
Although the celebrations have a state character, Moise’s family announced that they will pay all the expenses, according to the wish of the first lady.