Gérard Latortue

Who is Gérard Latortue?

Gérard Latortue was the Prime Minister of Haïti from March 12, 2004 to June 9, 2006. He was an official in the United Nations for many years, and briefly served as foreign minister of Haïti during the short-lived 1988 administration of Leslie Manigat.

In February 2004, the country experienced a coup d'état which saw the removal and exile of President Jean-Bertrand Aristide; Breaking with the Haitian constitution a "council of the wise" was set up by the international powers to choose a new Prime Minister. Latortue was selected by the Council and appointed head of the interim government on March 9 while still living in the United States, and was sworn in on March 12.

His administration was recognized by the United Nations, the United States, Canada and The European Union and denied recognition by a few governments, including the governments of Jamaica and St Kitts and Nevis, Venezuela and Cuba, as well as the African Union. Furthermore, his Government was beset with opposition from the Fanmi Lavalas political party; an ongoing flight of foreign capital and human resources; and violence by and between gangs, rebels, and militants, many of whom are either former members of the Haitian Armed Forces or street gang supporters of the Aristide government "Chimere".