Haiti

Political Turmoil in Haiti as Transitional Presidential Council Moves to Oust Prime Minister

Is the TPC taking a sovereign decision based on performance or succumbing to partisan pressure over national interest?

Published JAN 22

Political Turmoil in Haiti as Transitional Presidential Council Moves to Oust Prime Minister

Story

Above: Haiti's TPC members Leslie Voltaire, Edgard Leblanc Fils, Smith Augustin and Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aimé on July 7, 2025. Image credit: Clarens Siffroy/AFP/Getty Images

The Facts

Haiti's Transitional Presidential Council (TPC) member Smith Augustin told Le Nouvelliste on Thursday that he and four others signed a resolution to oust Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aimé. Reports suggest that Finance Minister Alfred Métellus is behind the move and would serve as acting prime minister.
Le Nouvelliste
The Miami Herald
HaitiInfoProj on X
This comes as Fils-Aimé survived a resolution for his dismissal on Wednesday after Augustin removed his support, leaving Edgard Leblanc Fils, Fritz Alphonse Jean, Leslie Voltaire and Louis Gérald Gilles as non-majority signatories at the time.
Haiti Libre
Le Nouvelliste
According to reports, a resolution to remove the TPC President Laurent Saint-Cyr is in the works as he has refused to forward the resolution confirming the ousting of Fils-Aimé for publication in the country's gazette, preventing it from becoming official.
Le Quotidien 509
The Miami Herald
Gazette Haiti News on X
Human rights advocate Pierre Espérance claimed that the decision to dismiss Fils-Aimé is part of a push to undermine the fight against organized crime and called on Haiti's security forces to take control of the TPC headquarters and remove security details from council members.
RezoNòdwès
The Miami Herald
On Wednesday, the U.S. Embassy in Haiti and U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau warned that any effort to change the government's composition by the non-elected council at this stage in its tenure would be considered null and void, and that anyone supporting such a move would be viewed as favoring gangs.
U.S. Embassy Haiti on X
Christopher Landau on X
The mandate of the TPC, which was created in April 2024 to choose Haiti's prime minister after powerful gangs forced Ariel Henry out of office, is set to expire on Feb. 7. General elections are tentatively scheduled for August and a runoff in December.
RezoNòdwès
The Associated Press

Sources Split

LEFT

CENTER

RIGHT

ESTAB
CRIT

CENTER

PRO
ESTAB

The Spin

Narrative A

Haiti's TPC is rightfully exercising sovereign authority by removing Prime Minister Fils-Aimé after five of seven members voted for his dismissal. The decision stands firm despite foreign pressure because Haiti makes decisions based on national interests, not external diplomatic considerations. Fils-Aimé failed to address rampant insecurity and utilized only 30% of the security budget allocated to combat violence.

Réalité Info

Narrative B

Every decision affecting Haiti's future must prioritize the general interest over partisan considerations, with the Haitian people at the center of public action — and this is not the case here. This is a decisive year for Haiti, and the country must focus on restoring security, state authority and constitutional order. The electoral process must become the absolute priority and main point of convergence to restore democratic legitimacy after nearly ten years without free elections.