Haiti’s Interim Prime Minister Replaced Amid Ongoing Political Turmoil

HAITI-UNREST-CLEANUP

PORT-AU-PRINCE — A transitional council formed to restore democratic order in Haiti has dismissed interim Prime Minister Garry Conille and replaced him with Alix Didier Fils-Aimé, a businessman who was previously considered for the position.

The decree, set to be published on Monday, was shared with the Associated Press by a government source. This latest development adds to the tumultuous democratic transition process in Haiti, which has not held democratic elections in years largely due to the escalating gang violence plaguing the Caribbean nation.

Fils-Aimé, the former president of Haiti’s Chamber of Commerce and Industry, ran unsuccessfully for Senate in 2015. The businessman, who studied at Boston University, was previously considered for the position as a private sector candidate before Conille was appointed.

Conille, a veteran civil servant with United Nations experience, served as prime minister for only six months.

The transitional council, established in April, was tasked with selecting Haiti’s next prime minister and Cabinet, with the aim of calming unrest in the country. However, the council has been plagued by political infighting and has been at odds with Conille. Last week, organizations like the Organization of American States attempted to mediate disagreements to salvage the fragile transition, according to reporting from the Miami Herald.

The process suffered another setback in October when three council members faced corruption accusations. Anti-corruption investigators alleged that they demanded $750,000 in bribes from a government bank director to secure his job.

The report dealt a significant blow to the nine-member council and is expected to further erode public trust in the body.

These same members accused of bribery, Smith Augustin, Emmanuel Vertilaire and Louis Gérald Gilles, were among those who signed the decree. Only one member, Edgard Leblanc Fils, did not sign the order.

The transitional council’s move has faced criticism from individuals like former Justice Minister Bernard Gousse, who told local media that Conille’s dismissal was “illegal” because the council was exceeding its authority and due to the corruption allegations against them.

—Associated Press reporter Megan Janetsky contributed to this report from Mexico City.