PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti, CMC – Former prime minister Evans Paul has accused Interim President Jocelerme Privert of being “in flagrant violation of the political agreement” that ended the constitutional crisis following the departure from office of then president Michel Martelly on February 7.

Privert took office on February 14, a week after the departure of president Michel Martelly, who left without a successor after a vote to choose his replacement was postponed over fears of violence.

Paul, in a letter to Privert, said that the appointment of US-educated economist and former Central Bank governor Fritz Jean as the country’s new prime minister last weekend was not in conformity with the agreement signed hours before Martelly’s departure.

Jean’s nomination comes after numerous meetings over the past week by Privert with political parties, business and human-rights leaders that were aimed at finding a consensus on who should temporarily step into the position.

He was nominated by human rights organisations and is considered more of a technocrat than a politician.

Under the accord, the interim president — who was chosen by parliament — will serve for up to 120 days. It also proposes a new presidential election on April 24, with a new president to be installed on May 14.

Paul, in his letter, warned Privert that “your actions may complicate, or even compromise, the search for political stability proper to contribute to social peace and a return to normal functioning of republican institutions”.

He said that the agreement provides that the interim president “must ‘consult with the presidents of the two Houses of Parliament around the choice of a prime minister”.

Paul said that the consultation did “not take place due to the fact that the honourable senators of the Republic have not yet provided their Assembly with a president following your resignation”.

Paul also warned that the agreement also stated that “Parliament must ‘invite the prime minister, accompanied by members of his government to stand by before the two (2) houses in plenary session in order to receive the vote of confidence in his policy statement.

“Once obtained the vote of confidence, the prime minister is immediately installed in his functions.’ Again, none of these irritating formalities have been respected, while you have chosen to install the prime minister named in these circumstances,” Paul wrote.

“Mr Provisional President, should we regard your behaviour as a relentless to trample, mercilessly, this agreement you have you even conceived, drafted, negotiated, signed and which you are the primary beneficiary?”

Paul also said that the recent nomination of the new prime minister “as evidenced by the many protests it provoked, was made in flagrant violation of the political agreement that is and should remain your compass as Provisional President of the Republic and represents a very bad signal for the Nation.”

Paul said it was for these reasons he has agreed with “all members of the current government… (to) refuse to endorse this strange and hasty approach” and also to attend the installation of the new prime minister.

“I hope you understand that I am not motivated by the desire to contribute to exercise power, but by the constant concern to avoid to be associated with a predictable political chaos,” Paul wrote.