The majority of Haiti’s transitional council voted to oust the country’s prime minister, Alix Didier Fils-Aime, defying warnings from the United States and others in the international community.
Edgard Leblanc Fils, president of the council, made the announcement on Friday alongside fellow council member Leslie Voltaire. They did not explain why the decision was made and said they would find a replacement within 30 days. There were no other members of the panel present.
“We know that the decision we make is in the interest of the country and in this sense, our friends in the international community will have to take note of our decisions,” Leblanc said. However, the panel is scheduled to cease to exist in 15 days and it’s not clear what will happen after.
The group is facing pressure to hold elections for the first time in a decade, and tentative dates were set for August and December of this year.
The development comes despite warnings from the U.S. and others in the international community, who said the firing of Fils-Aime could fuel instability in the country.
In fact, Secretary of State Marco Rubio conveyed his support for the prime minister, with the State Department noting in a press release that Rubio “emphasized the importance of his continued tenure as Haiti’s Prime Minister to combat terrorist gangs and stabilize the island.”
Rubio went on to say that the transitional council will have to end at its supposed date, February 7, and reiterated a previous warning from the administration to politicians who appear to be planning to stay in power.
The document said the body must “be dissolved by February 7 without corrupt actors seeking to interfere in Haiti’s path to elected governance for their own gains.”
“Haiti’s leader must choose Haiti’s stability. The United States will ensure there is a steep cost for corrupt politicians who support vicious gangs and wreak terrorism on Haiti,” the statement ends.
Originally published on Latin Times
