Fritz Alphonse Jean sworn in as President of Haiti’s Transitional Presidential Council

Fritz Alphonse Jean, representing the Montana Accord, was officially sworn in as president of Haiti’s Transitional Presidential Council (CPT) on Friday, succeeding Leslie Voltaire of the Fanmi Lavalas political party.

Voltaire’s five-month tenure was marked by escalating security challenges that significantly hampered his administration’s efforts.

The handover ceremony took place at Villa d’Accueil in Musseau, Port-au-Prince, attended by members of the diplomatic corps and government officials. Jean’s appointment follows his nomination by the Montana Group, a coalition of civic, religious, and political organizations formed in response to the political vacuum created by the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse in 2021. The Montana Accord, proposed in August 2021, advocates for a provisional government to replace interim Prime Minister Ariel Henry and oversee elections.

In his farewell speech, Voltaire defended his leadership, highlighting the deployment of the Haitian Armed Forces (FAD’H) in Vertières and increased police presence, bolstered by reinforcements from the Multinational Security Support Mission (MSS). However, he acknowledged the worsening security situation, with armed gangs expanding control over key areas in the West and Artibonite departments.