Opposition Groups Propose Court of Cassation Judge to Replace Presidential Council

Political coalitions endorse a “Protocol of Engagement” invoking Article 149 of the Constitution and reject ongoing dialogue led by the Presidential Council.

By: Haitian Prime News~January 2026|Port-au-Prince, Haiti

Several Haitian political organizations, including the April 24 Initiative, the Plural Opposition, the People’s Grand Bloc, DEHFI, and other allied groups, have jointly endorsed a political document titled the “Protocol of Engagement,” proposing a new framework for transitional governance in Haiti.

According to the signatories, the protocol calls for the replacement of the current Presidential Council with a judge from Haiti’s Court of Cassation. The proposal explicitly references Article 149 of the 1987 Constitution, which outlines procedures for executive succession in cases of presidential vacancy.

Under the proposed arrangement, the designated president would be tasked with appointing a prime minister following consultations with political stakeholders. The prime minister would then form and lead what the protocol describes as a National Rescue Government, operating in line with the commitments and principles outlined in the document.

The political groups also used the announcement to formally reject dialogue initiatives recently launched by the Presidential Council with select political actors regarding the post–February 7 political transition. The signatories argue that such discussions lack legitimacy and do not adequately respond to the depth of Haiti’s political and institutional crisis.

The endorsement of the protocol highlights persistent fractures within Haiti’s political landscape, as rival groups advance competing interpretations of constitutional authority and propose divergent paths for restoring governance amid ongoing instability.

Sources

Métropole Haïti

Press conference