WASHINGTON (CMC) – The United States is calling for elections to be held in Haiti as soon as possible after Prime Minister Laurent Lamothe resigned over the weekend due to the ongoing deteriorating political situation in the French-speaking Caribbean Community (CARICOM) country.
“Elections are essential for Haiti’s democratic development and for continued progress in post-earthquake reconstruction and development,” said US Secretary of State John Kerry in a statement.
“We commend the work of Haiti’s presidential advisory commission and welcome its recommendations as a basis to encourage consensus,”
Late November, President Michel Martelly announced the establishment of the commission as opposition demonstrators took to the streets to force him out of office.
Martelly has been holding talks with several social and political groups in a bid to pave the way for the holding of the long-delayed election to renew two thirds of the 30-member Senate, the entire Lower Chamber and hundreds of local government bodies.
Out of the 30 senate-members, only 20 remain in office, and amendments to an existing electoral law are required to facilitate the vote.
But six opposition legislators have consistently refused to attend the meetings of the Senate preventing the body from getting the required 16-member quorum needed to hold a session.
Political observers note that by January 12, next year, the Haitian parliament will become dysfunctional with only 10 senators left, while 16 is required to hold a session.
In his statement, Kerry commended Martelly for his “courageous efforts to resolve the deadlock and for his decision to accept the commission’s recommendations.
“Prime Minister Lamothe’s announcement of his resignation is evidence of the Haitian executive branch’s commitment to resolve the situation,” he said.
On Sunday, Lamothe announced his resignation and those of several ministers in the wake of violent anti-government protests and the commission’s call for him to demit office.