In Haiti President Martelly has nominated a new PM. He is Laurent Lamothe, who is reported to be close to the president. The ratification process has scarcely begun. Given the usual difficulties, Haiti can expect to be without a PM for some time.

The broader problem for President Martelly is that the ‘nationality’ issue refuses to go away. The Constitution states that the president must ‘never have given up Haitian nationality’ and must have lived in Haiti for 5 consecutive years prior to the election. These requirements apply to the PM as well.

According to Radio Kiskeya, President Martelly is accused of having become a naturalised American in the past. The PM-designate, Laurent Lamothe, is also likely to be questioned on both counts. The Senate is leading the investigation. It is not inconceivable that they could try to impeach the president or render his election null and void on these grounds. The likelihood of PM-designate Lamothe being ratified must surely be very small.

So, Haiti is in a very unstable situation at the moment. The non-partisan president has few allies. The opposition in the legislature cannot fill the political vacuum. This is a dangerous mix.