Legislative

Parliament: We didn't choose the 3 candidates, Martelly did

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti - President of the Lower House, Sorel Jacinthe, alleged on Tuesday that the list of 10 potential prime ministers was reduced to 3 by President of the Republic, Michel Martelly and his staff, contrary to previous reports.

Back from his voyage from Spain, President Martelly announced at a press conference that a list of potential prime ministers had been reduced by members of parliament, working with members of the president's commission which was set up to negotiate with parliament on the appointment of the next head of government. Indeed, President Martelly stated on Saturday during the press conference that he had produced a list of 10 potential prime ministers but it was the parliamentarians who had opted for three out of the ten names.

Vice President of Parliament, Deputy Sorel Jacinthe denies the statements of Mr. Martelly. "We did not reduce the list. The President has consulted and we told him which of them has problems and will have an unfavorable vote in the parliament." Other members of parliament are claoming absence from the consultations with the president's commission thus President Martelly cannot say that it is them which helped reduce the list to 3 potential ministers out of the list of 10.

Out of the 3 potential candidates the president chose Bernard Gousse a former Minister of Justice. On Friday, 16 Senators out of 30 signed a preemptive resolution to reject Bernard Gousse for prime minister. The president, at Saturday's press conference assured citizens that he had 18 out of 30 voted in favor of Gousse in the senate.

The deposition of documents for the Prime Minister-designate Bernard Gousse has been deferred until Thursday. The Communications Office of the President announced the delay on Tuesday morning, the same day in which Gousse was expected to submit his documents before Parliament. The office of communications noted the preference to be Thursday. The designated Prime Minister has not disclosed the reasons for the postponement.

Senator Francis Lucas Saint-Vil affirms to have received a correspondence from the Presidency confirming the postponement of the submission of Bernard Gousse's pieces, as the former Minister of Justice was preparing to go before Parliament later that day.

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source: HPN