Ariel Henry to replace Claude Joseph as Haitian Prime Minister

Ariel Henry will replace Haiti's interim prime minister o honor the wishes of the country’s slain president, an official told news agency The Associated Press on Monday, 19th July 2020.

Monday, 19th July 2021

Haiti: Ariel Henry will replace Haiti's interim prime minister o honor the wishes of the country’s slain president, an official told news agency The Associated Press on Monday, 19th July 2020. Notably, It wasn’t sudden clear how quickly interim PM Claude Joseph, who has been leading Haiti with the backing of police & the military for the July 7 assassination of President of Haiti Jovenel Moïse, would step down. “Negotiations are still in course,” Haiti Elections Minister Mathias Pierre stated, adding that Joseph would go back to being Foreign Affairs Minister. Joseph could not be immediately contacted for comment; also, Henry did not return a message for comment. The change follows a statement Saturday from a critical group of international diplomats that seemed to snub Joseph as it called for the making of “a consensual and inclusive government.” “To this end, it strongly promotes the designated PM Ariel Henry to remains the mission entrusted to him to make such a government,” the comment from the Core Group told. The Core Group is composed of ambassadors from Germany, Brazil, Canada, Spain, the U.S., France, the European Union and representatives from the United Nations and the Organization of American States. Monique Clesca, a Haitian writer, activist and former U.N. official, said she doesn’t anticipate any changes under Henry, whom she assumes to carry on Moïse’s legacy. But she advised Henry might be viewed as tainted because of the Core Group″s involvement. “If he accepts this, there is not only a thought, but the reality that he has been put there by the world community, also I think that’s his burden to carry,” she added. “What we’re calling for is for Haitians to actually say this is unacceptable. We do not want the global community stating who ought to be in power & what ought to be done. It is up to us.” The Core Group remark was issued hours after Moïse’s wife, Martine, arrived in Haiti on Saturday aboard a private jet clad in black and carrying a bulletproof vest. She has not issued a comment or spoken publicly since her return to Haiti as the government plans for the July 23 funeral that will be held in the northern city of Cap-Haitien. Other issues to honor Moïse are outlined this week in the capital of Port-au-Prince before of the funeral. Moïse named Henry as prime minister a day before he was killed, but he had not been sworn in. The neurosurgeon was earlier minister of social affairs and interior minister. He has belonged to various political parties, including Inite, which was established by former President René Préval.