Martelly Meets Legislatures Face-to-Face in Visit to Parliament

by: DefendHaiti

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti - The President of the Republic, Michel Joseph Martelly, made a courtesy visit to the halls of the Haitian Parliament on Wednesday to make himself available to Senators and Deputies who may reserve questions or concerns regarding the ratification of a Prime Minister.

As the Constitution requires, the President of the Republic had a private conversation with the President of the Chamber of Deputies, Saurel Hyacinthe and the President of the Senate, Jean Rodolphe Joazile on the topic of ratifying their designated Prime Minister, Bernard Honorat Gousse. Following the private conversations, His Excellency did profit by being able to greet Senators in full meeting as well as the Deputies.

The Office of the President stated that the back and forth between the presidency and parliament, that has been playing out in the press was not conducive to the progress of the republic. Earlier, on Tuesday the President denounced the lack of decorum expressed by parliamentarians when the announcement of his choice for prime minister was made official.

The majority bloc, the Parliamentary Group for the Renewal (GPR), preemptively, even before receiving documents from the Designated, declared they would not accept the nomination of Bernard Gousse for Head of Government. 16 Senators out of a possible 30 in the Upper House signed a petition unfavorable to Gousse, making his ratification less than likely.

Martelly Visits Parliament

"We must work for the country," stated President Martelly by reaching out to Senator Jean Charles Moïses of the Nord. Moïse has been most outspoken and influential towards a rejection of Bernard Gousse. The Office of the President, hoping to address the concerns of parliamentarians said that this "visit to Parliament is a living example of the will of the President of the Republic to work face to face with legislators and others who wish to ask specific actions for the population."

The President, speaking to the press after the visit said firstly "this visit is not a visit to go and force someone because they [parliamentarians] have the right to decide what they want to decide."

President Michel Martelly wanted to ease citizens who were concerned that tensions between the executive and legislative branches had stagnated progress. Martelly noted to the press that parliamentarians were laughing and joking in a easy and relaxed atmosphere on his visit to their quarters.

"It is not a victory for them if the people are mad at me, and it is not a victory for me if the people are mad at parliament. The only victory is when we come together and do something for the people of Haiti," Martelly concluded