Haiti’s Newly Formed Transitional Council Selects Fritz Bélizaire as Prime Minister
In a surprising move, Haiti’s newly established transitional council has chosen Fritz Bélizaire, a former sports minister, as the country’s new prime minister. Bélizaire was selected to replace the current interim Prime Minister Michel Patrick Boisvert, gaining the support of four out of seven voting members on the nine-member panel.
The council, led by former presidential candidate Edgard Leblanc Fils as president, has been tasked with forming a stable government in the midst of escalating violence and gang activity in the capital city of Port-au-Prince. More than 90,000 people have fled the city in the past month, leaving over 360,000 homeless due to gang violence.
The selection of Bélizaire caught some council members off guard, with concerns raised about his unfamiliarity among certain individuals. However, the majority backing him includes a diverse coalition of political party representatives. The council is now working on appointing a Cabinet and collaborating with army and police officials to address Haiti’s security crisis.
The transitional council is set to act as the country’s presidency until a new presidential election can be organized, with plans to disband by February 2026. Despite this roadmap, Haitians remain divided over whether a transitional government can effectively address the ongoing violence and instability in the nation.
One potential step towards addressing the security crisis is the council’s support for the U.N.-backed deployment of a Kenyan police force to help combat gangs. However, the timeline for this intervention remains unclear as the council grapples with immediate challenges facing the country.
As Haiti navigates this critical juncture in its governance, all eyes are on Bélizaire and the transitional council to provide much-needed stability and security for the country’s embattled population.
“Zombie enthusiast. Subtly charming travel practitioner. Webaholic. Internet expert.”