Haiti enters uncertain political phase as parliament dissolved
Source: Reuters
Haiti enters uncertain political phase as parliament dissolved
BY AMELIE BARON
PORT-AU-PRINCE Tue Jan 13, 2015 5:17pm EST
(Reuters) - The Haitian parliament was dissolved on Tuesday after the failure of last-ditch negotiations for a deal to extend the terms of its members to avert a political crisis in the Caribbean country.
Haiti has not held legislative or municipal elections for three years, and the lack of a working parliament effectively leaves President Michel Martelly to rule by decree.
Martelly launched last-minute negotiations, but failed to convince a group of opposition senators to approve a U.S.-sanctioned plan to extend parliamentary terms for several months until new elections can be held.
On Tuesday, the United Nations "Core Group," which includes countries working closely with Haiti, such as the United States, Brazil, Canada, and the European Union, issued a statement saying it "deplores the fact that the Haitian parliament has become dysfunctional," while offering its support for Martelly.
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