The U.S. has tried to ‘fix’ Haiti before. How will this time be different?
Washington PostMar 04
Haiti Establishes Transitional Council
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The Facts
Haiti has issued a decree announcing the establishment of a nine-member transitional council tasked with appointing a new prime minister and cabinet. The council will exercise certain powers until the election of a new president, which must take place before Feb. 7, 2026.
The governing council, comprised of seven voting members from across the political spectrum, plus two non-voting observers, has agreed to support the deployment of a UN-backed multinational police force to help Haiti fight gangs.
The Spin
Pro-establishment narrative
Gangs waging warfare have plunged Haiti into anarchy. As the country badly needs some authority to allow the deployment of an international security force, it's positive news that the transitional council is now closer to starting work.
Establishment-critical narrative
The international community wants to impose a failure-prone framework on Haitians. This transitional council effectively hands power to the political and business elite that has already demonstrated its inability to achieve consensus and stability. This will just consolidate power in the hands of those to blame for much of the country's problems.