Haitian Prime Minister Laurent Lamothe yesterday announced his resignation after repeated calls for him to step down amid anti-government protests and a political crisis.
“I am leaving the post of prime minister this evening with a feeling of accomplishment,” Lamothe said in a televised address, the Haitian Ministry of Communication tweeted yesterday.
Lamothe’s resignation had been widely expected after Haitian President Michel Martelly on Friday said the prime minister was ready to leave to help end a political impasse that has blocked parliamentary elections for the past three years.
Haiti’s capital, Port-au-Prince, has endured a growing number of violent demonstrations in which protesters demanded the delayed elections and the resignations of Lamothe, as well as Martelly.
On Saturday, a man died in a protest in Port-Au-Prince during clashes with police who were firing tear gas. It was not immediately clear how he died, although he was shot at least once in the wrist.
The demonstrations also spread to other towns, including Gonaives and Cap-Haitien.
The unrest followed a demonstration on Friday in which UN peacekeeping troops opened fire on a crowd that marched through the capital, setting tires on fire and skirmishing with troops and police.
UN troops were not present at Saturday’s protest.
The UN Stabilization Mission in Haiti said it would investigate allegations that its troops used excessive force in Friday’s clash. The body said in a statement it is taking the allegations very seriously.
“[We] immediately opened an investigation to establish the facts,” officials said.
Martelly has been under increasing pressure to call elections, which have been expected since 2011. His administration blames the delay on six opposition senators who contend that legislation that would authorize the vote is unconstitutional and unfairly favors the government.
The commission set up to break the impasse recommended that Lamothe resign, along with the head of the Haitian Supreme Court and members of Haiti’s Provisional Electoral Council. It also called for the release of several “political prisoners.”
Speaking to the nation late on Friday, Martelly said he accepted the commission’s findings and that Lamothe was prepared to make a sacrifice and resign.
Martelly said he would meet with government officials today to discuss the commission’s report.
The terms of 10 senators expire in the middle of next month and parliament will be dissolved, meaning — would rule by decree.
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