SANTO DOMINGO, Jul 20 (NNN-XINHUA) – Haiti’s interim prime minister, Claude Joseph, who led the country since the assassination of President Jovenel Moise on Jul 7, will step down and hand over power to neurosurgeon, Ariel Henry, the country’s Electoral Affairs confirmed yesterday.
Henry and Joseph have been discussing the formation of a new government for several days, leading to new authorities taking office yesterday, with the acting prime minister becoming the minister of foreign affairs, Haitian newspaper, Le Nouvelliste reported.
Henry was named prime minister in a decree signed by Moise two days before he was killed, but was not sworn in. According to press reports, there will be no president of Haiti, since the new government will organise general elections as soon as possible.
The agreement comes 48 hours after representatives of the United Nations and the United States in Haiti, as well as, a group of foreign ambassadors that make up the so-called Core Group, urged Henry on Saturday, to form a consensual government.
Henry, a neurosurgeon, considered to have a moderate and conciliatory stance, will lead the government starting today, amid unrest unleashed by Moise’s murder.
The 71-year-old surgeon has previous experience in government, having served in the cabinet from 2015 to 2016, during Michel Martelly’s term as president and, previously, as a member of the Council of Wise Men.– NNN-XINHUA
