President Michel Martelly of Haiti decided to leave office, following a controversial presidential election which ignited a vicious protest regarding vote manipulation. This leaves the government with no clear successor to his position.
According to the Business Insider, during the joint session of the Parliament, Martelly gave his 20-minute speech addressed to the citizens of Haiti. He said that he regret that the elections were postponed and that he'd been working hard to make the country a better place and was ready to be accountable to any court. Port-au-Prince is supposed to celebrate its three-day Carnival celebration but authorities canceled the event due to the chaotic atmosphere and uncertainties in the political arena following Martelly's departure.
Evans Paul, Haiti's prime minister is bound to stay in power as lawmakers scramble to begin the process of patching together a short-term interim government. This move by the lawmakers will ease out divisions created by politics and fill in the vacated position of Martelly.
History repeats itself as Haiti also did create a transitional government last 2004 after President Bertrand-Aristide was removed from power following a rebellion in the country. But this time, it was the political factions that started a constitutional crisis forcing Martelly to create a deal with the lawmakers 24 hours before leaving his office. The 35-nation Organization of the US was also in Haiti to observe the negotiations as reported by The News.
Senate President Jocelerme Privert urged the legislators to cast their votes for the next leader who will lead the temporary caretaker government. Though some oppositions disagree with what Martelly and the legislators agreed upon, Privert insisted that it will be the majority's decision who should be followed and added that it is the democratic way.
Ban Ki-moon, UN's secretary-general commended the Haitian authorities to ensure harmony among everyone to ensure a peaceful transfer of power to their selected leader.
