The President of the Republic, Jocelerme Privert proceeded this Thursday at the National Palace to the installation of the five members of the Independent Commission for the Evaluation and Verification of the 2015 elections. This Commission which has a heavy and urgent mission, according to the Head of the Executive, is composed of Me Gédéon Jean (human rights), François Benoit (former electoral advisor), Father Mac Donald Jean (Anglican Church), Michel Éric Gaillard (Order of Chartered Accountants of Haiti), Ing. Pierre Wilfrid Sanon (Haitian Association of Construction Companies).
This Commission was born out of force in the face of the reluctance of a large fringe of the international community and parliamentary blocs which were very hostile to this structure.
During his speech for the occasion, President Privert gave the firm guarantee that he will not interfere in the affairs of the commission and the CEP. “I will never interfere in the work of the Evaluation and Verification Commission and the CEP, which enjoy their total independence and autonomy” declared President Privert in front of an audience made up in particular of several members of the ministerial cabinet.
François Benoît, member of the commission who spoke on behalf of his peers, spoke of the “humility and serenity” which inhabit them by accepting this new task. “We will work in the sense of preserving the best interests of the nation” insisted François Benoît who made it clear that their mission is above all civic.
If many political leaders who fought the team of the former President Martelly at the National Palace, the international community and parliamentarians shone strongly on Thursday by their absence.
The 2015 election verification commission installed, President Privert according to sources close to the entourage of the National Palace will have succeeded in resisting the repeated assaults of diplomats, political leaders and parliamentarians who have never missed the opportunity to demonstrate their opposition. No one is afraid that the reply will be delayed for the Provisional President.
