Haiti’s interim president meeting with possible candidate for PM
PORT AU PRINCE, Haiti (CMC) — Interim president Jocelerme Privert has been holding talks with possible candidates for the position of prime minister with the 2010 presidential candidate Mirlande Manigat emerging as a strong nominee to replace Paul Evans.
Privert, who was elected by the Parliament on Sunday to lead the French-speaking Caribbean Community (Caricom) country, Tuesday met with Moïse Jean-Charles, the presidential candidate of the Pitit Dassalin party as well as AndrÃ&Copy; Michel, presidential candidate for the JISTIS and Manigat, who is also general secretary of the Rally of Progressive National Democrats.
Under the agreement reached to end the political crisis that followed the departure of President Michel Martelly from office on February 7, the interim president chosen by parliament will serve for up to 120 days.
The agreement proposes a new presidential election on April 24, with a new president installed on May 14.
Following the meeting, Michel told reporters he had proposed to President Privert the candidacy of Manigat to head the transitional government.
He said he is convinced that both Privert and Manigat could work together for the socio-economic development of the country and that while he had made his opinion known, the interim president had not given any indication that he was in agreement.
Michel said that the meeting also focused on the establishment of a provisional Electoral Council and a Commission of administrative inquiry into the management of former President Martelly.
Manigat told reporters that during her meeting with the interim head of state they had discussed “the situation and the difficulties faced by the country”.
But she gave no indication as to whether or not she had been approached to head the transitional government, saying only that “the government’s formation should be done with the strong forces”.