The European Union, France, Germany, and Spain have in turn spoken out against any attempt to change the leadership of the Haitian government just days before the end of the mandate of the Conseil présidentiel de transition (CPT). In a joint statement, the Europeans call on the transitional authorities to show responsibility and preserve institutional stability, as some CPT members are considering the revocation of Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aimé.

The statement is particularly explicit about the risks associated with a change of government as the February 7 deadline approaches. “Any change at the head of government just days before the end of the Transitional Presidential Council would jeopardize the encouraging momentum of the security forces against criminal gangs,” warn the European Union, France, Germany, and Spain. For these partners, “the restoration of security must remain the absolute priority of the transition.”