Haitian Prime Minister Jack Guy Lafontant has stepped down amid calls by protesters to resign following the fuel price hike that set off a wave of deadly protests. He was in office for just 16 months.
President Jovenel Moise confirmed on Twitter that he had accepted Lafontant’s resignation.
Le Premier Ministre, @LafontantGuy , m’a remis sa démission. J’ai accepté, par la même occasion, la démission du gouvernement. J’en profite pour remercier Monsieur Lafontant et les membres du cabinet ministériel pour les services rendus à la nation.
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— Président Jovenel Moïse (@moisejovenel) July 14, 2018
The resignation came ahead of a motion of censure against Lafontant, and his cabinet, who was to answer questions about the July 6-8 riots that emerged after the government planned to raise the fuel prices in the country. At least seven people died in the riots.
The hike was part of an agreement with the International Monetary Fund to see one of Caribbean’s poorest countries balance its budget. Other measures included increased spending on social services and infrastructure as well as improved tax collection.
Although Lafontant suspended the fuel increase, the protests continued and the business community and the opposition called for his resignation.
Lafontant’s replacement will be nominated by President Moise before being confirmed by the Senate.
