"Haiti's Political and Economic Conditions"
Date of Publication
1-1-2023 12:00 AM
Security Theme
Political Stability
Keywords
Haitian National Police, corruption, immigration, human rights, counternarcotics, political stability
Description
Haiti inaugurated Jovenel Moïse as president on February 7, 2017, marking a return to constitutional order after having been without an elected president from February 2016 to February 2017 due to delayed elections and political gridlock. Moïse, a political newcomer and member of the Bald Head Party (PHTK, former President Michel Martelly’s [2011-2016] party), won the November 2016 elections with almost 56% of the vote. Voter turnout was 21%. During Moïse’s administration, Haiti has experienced growing political and social unrest, high rates of inflation, and resurgent gang violence. As political gridlock continued, the government did not organize parliamentary elections scheduled for October 2019. Consequently, as of mid-January 2020, there is no functioning legislature and Moïse is ruling by decree. Among the challenges Haiti faces are ongoing recovery from the 2010 earthquake and 2016’s Hurricane Matthew, a cholera epidemic, stalled economic growth, and a highly polarized political climate. Other obstacles Moïse faces during his five-year term include a weak mandate due to a relatively low voter turnout and ongoing social unrest due to continued poverty, lack of job opportunities, and growing public calls for an end to corruption. Moïse arrived under the shadow of an ongoing Haitian government investigation into his possible involvement in money laundering and irregular loan arrangements, which Moïse denies. In May 2019, Haiti’s Superior Court of Auditors and Administrative Disputes alleged that Moïse and other officials embezzled millions of dollars. The court’s report alleges that the Martelly administration contracted a company then led by Moïse to carry out infrastructure projects that it never completed. Moïse and the company deny the allegations.
"Haiti's Political and Economic Conditions"
Haiti inaugurated Jovenel Moïse as president on February 7, 2017, marking a return to constitutional order after having been without an elected president from February 2016 to February 2017 due to delayed elections and political gridlock. Moïse, a political newcomer and member of the Bald Head Party (PHTK, former President Michel Martelly’s [2011-2016] party), won the November 2016 elections with almost 56% of the vote. Voter turnout was 21%. During Moïse’s administration, Haiti has experienced growing political and social unrest, high rates of inflation, and resurgent gang violence. As political gridlock continued, the government did not organize parliamentary elections scheduled for October 2019. Consequently, as of mid-January 2020, there is no functioning legislature and Moïse is ruling by decree. Among the challenges Haiti faces are ongoing recovery from the 2010 earthquake and 2016’s Hurricane Matthew, a cholera epidemic, stalled economic growth, and a highly polarized political climate. Other obstacles Moïse faces during his five-year term include a weak mandate due to a relatively low voter turnout and ongoing social unrest due to continued poverty, lack of job opportunities, and growing public calls for an end to corruption. Moïse arrived under the shadow of an ongoing Haitian government investigation into his possible involvement in money laundering and irregular loan arrangements, which Moïse denies. In May 2019, Haiti’s Superior Court of Auditors and Administrative Disputes alleged that Moïse and other officials embezzled millions of dollars. The court’s report alleges that the Martelly administration contracted a company then led by Moïse to carry out infrastructure projects that it never completed. Moïse and the company deny the allegations.
