Friday at Hotel Karibe within the framework of the series of consultations initiated by President Martelly, in order to resolve the pre-electoral crisis, 4 Senators of the opposition : Jean-Baptiste Bien-Aimé (Northeast), John Joel Joseph (West), Jean William Jeanty (Nippes) and Francky Exius (South) responded to the invitation of the Head of State. Unsurprisingly Senators Jean-Charles Moïse (North) and Westner Polycarpe (North) were notably absent.

The meeting between the head of state (accompanied by his advisors) and 4 opposition senators, which was held, according to participants in a cordial atmosphere, without confrontation or inappropriate words, was held behind closed doors for nearly 6 hours and concluded with the participants' willingness to continue the dialogue.

Following these discussions, the President Martelly, who has not yet had a face to face with political parties and radical grouping of the opposition, composed in particular of Fanmi Lavalas, Fusion, INITE, MOPOD, Kontrapèpla et Ayiti pou Ayisyen and the Rally of Progressive National Democrats (RDNP), told reporters "I continue consultations with the different parties and sectors of national life," refusing any comments on what was said behind closed doors...

"There was no question of negotiations with the President," said Senator Francky Exius [...] We told him of our desire to find a solution to the crisis [...] We also asked him to meet the 6 parties and political groups of the opposition and he expressed his wish to meet them," The President confirmed "It was always on our agenda to meet everyone."

Unlike the June meeting at the Best Western, which had ended in failure https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-11302-haiti-politic-the-dialogue-between-the-executive-and-the-senate-ends-in-failure.html https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-11296-haiti-politic-cordial-dialogue-between-the-executive-and-the-senators-but-nothing-concrete.html the senators no longer seemed this time, wanting to make of the formation of a Privisoire Electoral Council (CEP) under section 289 of the Constitution, a prerequisite for the ratification of the amendments to the electoral law. For his part, President Martelly has not brandished the threat of Article 12 of the Agreement of El Rancho.

With this meeting a small step has been taken in the right direction, even if the road still seems long and that all obstacles have not been removed.

SL/ HaitiLibre