Martelly Steps Down, Interim Government to Rule Haiti

On Saturday, Haitian leaders signed a last-minute agreement establishing a provisional government as President Michel Martelly bid farewell to his five years in office with no elected successor in sight. These negotiations came after the country postponed presidential elections first scheduled for last January amid violent demonstrations and vote rigging accusations. Under the agreement, an interim president chosen by Parliament will be in place for 120 days and a second round of elections is to be held on April 24, with a newly elected leader to be sworn in on May 14, reported the Washington Post.

Speaking on the situation, Ronald Sanders, the head of an Organization of American States special mission, expressed that “the situation in Haiti is exceptional and it requires exceptional solutions” and that he is “pleased that the stakeholders have all committed themselves to democracy, peace, and stability amid a constitutional vacuum created by the absence of an elected President.” Following the negotiations, President Michel Martelly remarked, “despite this agreement, we will need to continue to remain vigilant because there are people who won’t agree.”