Haiti’s Supreme Judicial Council announced the end of President Jovenel Moïse’s mandate, who nevertheless stated that he will remain in power for another year.
The Council expressed “extremely concerned about the grave threats posed by the lack of political agreement given the expiry of President Jovenel Moïse’s constitutional mandate on February 7, 2021, according to a resolution released on Sunday.”
At daybreak, Moïse again ignored questions via Twitter about his legitimacy and reiterated his desire to radically reform the country’s political life.
“My government has received a 60-month constitutional mandate from the Haitian people. We have used up 48. The next 12 months will be devoted to reforming the energy sector, holding the referendum and organizing the elections.” Moïse tweeted.
In this context of great political uncertainty, the streets of the capital were deserted in the early hours of the day, although some eruptions of unknown origin could be heard in the center of Port-au-Prince, AFP reporters said.
In Haiti, the presidential term is five years, starting on February 7 after the elections. It was on February 7, 1986 when the three decades of Duvalier’s dictatorship came to an end.
The October 2015 elections resulted in Moïse winning the first round, but the election was annulled on allegations of fraud.
Moïse was declared the winner in the elections held a year later and finally took office on February 7, 2017.
After the controversial elections, opposition protests demanding his resignation intensified in the country’s main cities in the summer of 2018.
In recent years, civil society has campaigned against corruption and insecurity, with gangs spreading across the country.