Club de Madrid Members Felipe Calderón, former President of México (2006-2012) and Jorge Quiroga, former President of Bolivia (2001-2002) and the organization’s Vice-President, lead the IV high level mission to Haiti (27-29 January) in the framework of the EU-funded project “Promoting Dialogue for Democratic Reform in Haiti”. During the visit they held meetings with relevant political, economic leaders and stakeholders in Haiti such as President Martelly; the President of the Senate, Riché Andris; the Prime Minister Evans Paul; the President of the Provisional Electoral Council, M. Pierre Louis Opont; Cardinal Chibly Langlois and R.E Han Alexandre from the Conférence Episcopale d’Haiti as well as key political figures like former President Jean Bertrand Aristide, FUSION, OPL INITÉ, Fanmi Lavalas and Ansanm Nou FO. Meetings with relevant international community actors were also in the agenda.
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The Club de Madrid high level mission gathered different analysis of the political and institutional situation and conveyed a message highlighting the importance of inclusive dialogue and trust building in the political process with a clear aim: overcome the current institutional crisis featured by a dysfunctional parliament through ensuring the holding of free, transparent and inclusive elections in 2015, with the participation of all political parties.
After the three days visit, Club de Madrid’s delegation acknowledge the recent appointment of a provisional CEP key to disseminate of the electoral rules.
The presidential, legislative and local elections, will be the most complex and large-scale biggest in Haiti’s recent history. The international community must cooperate with the Haitian authorities to help making a success out of this crucial challenge the country is facing. In this sense the role of the MINUSTAH is perceived as vital as well as the extension of its mission in the current conditions to facilitate the security and fairness of the electoral process and ensuring ethics in electoral observation
Background
- The EU funded project “Promoting Dialogue for Democratic Reform in Haiti” has the following objectives:
- To identify multi-stakeholder areas for dialogue and negotiation so as to bring together the country’s key players and stimulate collective reflection on commonly identified democratic governance priorities.To accompany Haitian leaders in the management of immediate political challenges and support them in their search for solutions.
- To promote dialogue on medium and long-term democratic reforms through pragmatic agreements leading to political actions.
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The Club de Madrid is the world´s largest, independent group of democratic, political leaders, committed to addressing the challenges of democratic transition and consolidation. The principal added value of the Club de Madrid is a membership of over 100 democratically elected former Presidents and Prime Ministers, from over 60 countries, willing and able to share their diverse expertise, experience and networks in support of democratic values.
The European Union is a major donor of development and humanitarian assistance world-wide. In Haiti, the EU has allocated € 883 million since 2008. Support to good governance, democracy, rule of law and respect for human rights lie at the heart of the EU’s cooperation with Haiti.
