PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (CMC) — Fritz Alphonse Jean, representative of the Montana Accord, was officially sworn in as president of Haiti’s Transitional Presidential Council (CPT) on Friday, succeeding Leslie Voltaire from the Fanmi Lavalas political party, whose five-month tenure was overshadowed by worsening security conditions.

The handover ceremony at Villa d’Accueil in Musseau, Port-au-Prince was attended by members of the diplomatic corps and government officials.

Jean is a representative of the Montana Accord.

The accord is an approach proposed in August 2021 by the Commission for a Search to a Haitian Solution to the Crisis, a group of civic, religious and political organisations and leaders that assembled after the assassination of Jovenel Moise left Haiti without a head of state.

Among the accord’s major provisions is a call for a provisional government to take over from interim Prime Minister Ariel Henry and hold elections.

The committee, called the Montana Group, later named Fritz Jean as president of the provisional government.

Jean’s appointment follows that of Voltaire, who was appointed in October 2024 and faced escalating gang violence that crippled his administration’s efforts.

But in his farewell speech, Voltaire defended his leadership, highlighting key measures taken under his tenure which included the deployment of the Haitian Armed Forces (FAD’H) in Vertières, Northern Department and an increase in police personnel and reinforcements from the Multinational Security Support Mission (MSS).

“Over the past five months, police numbers have increased and military reinforcements are on the way,” Voltaire said.

Yet, armed gangs expanded their control over key areas in the West and Artibonite departments…We are not satisfied. There is still much to be done to ensure security and protect lives and property,” Voltaire said.

Meanwhile, Jean has vowed a more aggressive approach to tackling Haiti’s security crisis.

“Our country is at war today,” Jean declared during his official speech. “We need a war-adjusted budget to mobilise resources and restore security.”

His key security measures include recruiting 3,000 additional police and military personnel, expanding aerial and maritime surveillance to strengthen border security and activating the National Intelligence Agency to improve coordination between security forces.

Jean also emphasised a crackdown on corruption, pledging to reinforce oversight institutions, including the Anti-Corruption Unit (ULCC) and the Superior Court of Accounts and Administrative Litigation (CSCCA).

He further announced the creation of a public hotline for citizens to report abuses within government agencies, including the Immigration, Customs and General Tax Directorate (DGI).

“Corruption is fuelling this crisis. Strengthening our institutions is essential for national stability,” the new CPT president said.

Despite the urgent security and economic challenges, Jean reaffirmed that holding elections remains the CPT’s top priority.

“Our primary goal remains holding elections as scheduled on February 7, 2026,” he said.

Jean, now the third president of the CPT in less than a year since the institution’s installation, is set to lead until August 7, 2025. Then, he will hand over power to Laurent Saint-Cyr, who will be responsible for organising Haiti’s long-awaited elections.

These alternate appointments were agreed upon according to an agreement voted by the CPT members last year.