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Amid Logjam, Haiti Asks: Will President or Protesters Yield?

Associated Press

   PORT-AU-PRINCE, HAITI - The operation dubbed "Find Jovenel Moise"
   organized by opposition leaders demanding the resignation of Haiti's
   president ended abruptly when he appeared at the National Palace early
   this week following violent protests in which several people were
   killed.
   Haitians had become so accustomed to not seeing their president in
   person amid a deepening political and economic crisis that his arrival
   at the palace Tuesday took protesters by surprise, with only a handful
   of them present to pelt his convoy with rocks.
   Despite the rarity of his public appearances, the embattled leader has
   given no indication that he will step down after nearly a month of
   demonstrations against corruption, spiraling inflation and dwindling
   supplies of food and gasoline. Opponents have scheduled another protest
   for Wednesday, promising to once again paralyze Haiti's capital and
   nearby communities if he doesn't leave office.
   As the standoff continues, Haitians wonder who will yield first: the
   protesters or the president.
   "It's a dramatic situation, a chaotic situation," said Evans Paul, a
   former prime minister and Moise ally who privately discussed the crisis
   Monday with the Core Group, which includes officials from the United
   Nations, United States, Canada, France and others.
   Paul told The Associated Press that while those present did not say
   whether Moise should remain in power or resign, they urged dialogue,
   voiced support for Haiti's institutions and defended democratic
   principles, with Paul noting that Moise was elected by the people in
   2017 for a five-year term.
   He also said government officials are outlining ways to exit the
   crisis. He believes Moise has two options: choose a prime minister
   backed by the opposition or possibly reduce the length of his
   presidential term. However, Paul said many problems remain, including
   the lack of a provisional electoral commission.
   After the meeting, Paul said, he met with Moise to talk about the
   options and negotiations are continuing.

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