The two men discussed about the holding of overdue elections, governability, among other issues
PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti: — Haiti’s president Michel Martelly welcomed, at his office on Tuesday, former haitian president René Préval, as part of a new round of political discussions to facilitate the holding of crucial legislative and local elections in the Caribbean country as soon as possible.
Martelly said he invited Preval at the presidential palace to have his advice on how to best handle the ongoing political situation with fierce opponents trying to block the electoral process and threatening the country’s stability.
“President Preval remains so far the only president who has completed two terms. He was confronted with a number difficulties,” Martelly told journalists, shortly after meeting Preval on Tuesday.
“He proved that he knew how to negotiate because he managed to reach an agreement with different sectors,” acknowledged Martelly, saying therefore how important it was for him to meet with such a personality.
The Haitian leader said the discussions revolved around elections, agriculture, Education, the environment, reforestation, among other things.
Former president Preval, who was flown by helicopter to the palace from a remote northern town, said he advised president Martelly on the current political situation, as he hoped his advices will help solve problems facing the country.
“President Martelly invited me to exchange on the situation and I shared with him my experience and we discussed and I hope that will help bring a solution to the problem the country is facing,” Preval told reporters.
Martelly has launched, about 4 weeks ago, a new round of political talks, in a move to convince recalcitrant opposition senators and other radical opposition parties to cooperate in efforts aimed at organizing a ballot to renew two thirds of the 30-member senate assembly, the entire Lower Chamber and hundreds of local government entities.
President Martelly had already organized a series of political negotiations earlier this year, but several stakeholders, such the Haitian senate, have failed to fulfill their commitments — an attitude which has put the election process on hold.
