PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP) — Haiti’s president said Sunday he has forged a last-minute accord with leaders of four opposition parties after days of closed-door negotiations, possibly creating a viable path to ending a political standoff stalling long-delayed elections.
“Through this agreement, we are sure to achieve normalization of the political situation in the country,” Martelly said at a Port-au-Prince hotel following talks with the chiefs of opposition factions, including the Unity party of former President Rene Preval.
Martelly and opposition lawmakers have been embroiled in a political showdown over legislative elections due since 2011, when he was supposed to call a vote for a majority of Senate seats, the entire Chamber of Deputies and local offices.
A masked protester walks in the street where burning tires were set up by protesters demanding the resignation of President Michel Martelly in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Sunday, Jan. 11, 2015. At the same time, Martelly and opposition officials were locked again in negotiations at a hotel, trying to forge a last-minute deal to resolve a standoff stalling elections. Martelly will rule by decree if they don’t resolve the political crisis by the end of Monday. (AP Photo/Dieu Nalio Chery)
After days of fruitless negotiations with lawmakers, Martelly on Sunday finally achieved consensus to try and end the impasse. The electoral law must still be approved by lawmakers and an emergency session was scheduled for Monday after the senate failed to achieve quorum Sunday night. The government feels it now has the support needed to win the vote.
Martelly, who took power in May 2011 and is due to leave next year, will rule by decree if political leaders don’t resolve Haiti’s crisis by authorizing the law by Monday’s close.
Senate President Simon Desras told The Associated Press he was hopeful that the political gridlock could be resolved in the next 24 hours. He said he expected participation of at least three but possibly four members of a group of six senators who have used parliamentary procedure to prevent a vote authorizing the elections. They accuse Martelly of trying to undermine the Constitution.
“I’m confident and feeling positive that we can solve this,” Desras said before a Monday parliamentary session was scheduled.
In a Sunday statement, the U.S. Embassy said it strongly supported efforts by Martelly to end the impasse, noting his “wide-ranging concessions,” including the recent removal of his prime minister.
If lawmakers still don’t approve the law and Haiti has one-man rule starting this week, the U.S. said it will continue to work with Martelly and “whatever legitimate Haitian government institutions remain to safeguard the significant gains” achieved since the 2010 quake.
There has been an uptick in street protests orchestrated by opposition factions that have caused a measure of mayhem in downtown Port-au-Prince. On Sunday, mostly young male protesters again burned tires and threw rocks at riot police, who fired tear gas and sprayed water from armored vehicles.
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A demonstrator holds up a sign showing images of former President Bill Clinton that asks where the aid money for reconstruction went during a protest demanding the resignation of President Michel Martelly in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Sunday, Jan. 11, 2015. At the same time, Martelly and opposition officials were locked again in negotiations at a hotel, trying to forge a last-minute deal to resolve a standoff stalling elections. Martelly will rule by decree if they don’t resolve the political crisis by the end of Monday. (AP Photo/Dieu Nalio Chery)
Demonstrators flip a car to block off a street during a protest demanding the resignation of President Michel Martelly in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Sunday, Jan. 11, 2015. At the same time, Martelly and opposition officials were locked again in negotiations at a hotel, trying to forge a last-minute deal to resolve a standoff that’s stalling elections. Martelly will rule by decree if they don’t resolve the political crisis by the end of Monday. (AP Photo/Dieu Nalio Chery)
A masked protester blocks a road with burning tires during a protest demanding the resignation of President Michel Martelly in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Sunday, Jan. 11, 2015. At the same time, Martelly and opposition officials were locked again in negotiations at a hotel, trying to forge a last-minute deal to resolve a standoff stalling elections. Martelly will rule by decree if they don’t resolve the political crisis by the end of Monday. (AP Photo/Dieu Nalio Chery)
A supporter of Haiti’s former President Jean Bertrand Aristide sits on the ground holding images of him during a protest demanding the resignation of President Michel Martelly in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Sunday, Jan. 11, 2015. At the same time, Martelly and opposition officials were locked again in negotiations at a hotel, trying to forge a last-minute deal to resolve a standoff stalling elections. Martelly will rule by decree if they don’t resolve the political crisis by the end of Monday. (AP Photo/Dieu Nalio Chery)
A protester stacks tires at a burning barricade blocking a street during a protest demanding the resignation of President Michel Martelly in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Sunday, Jan. 11, 2015. At the same time, Martelly and opposition officials were locked again in negotiations at a hotel, trying to forge a last-minute deal to resolve a standoff stalling elections. Martelly will rule by decree if they don’t resolve the political crisis by the end of Monday. (AP Photo/Dieu Nalio Chery)
A masked protester rolls a tire to use in a burning road block during a protest demanding the resignation of President Michel Martelly in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Sunday, Jan. 11, 2015. At the same time, Martelly and opposition officials were locked again in negotiations at a hotel, trying to forge a last-minute deal to resolve a standoff stalling elections. Martelly will rule by decree if they don’t resolve the political crisis by the end of Monday. (AP Photo/Dieu Nalio Chery)
A man writes in Creole “Down Martelly” on a wall during a protest demanding the resignation of President Michel Martelly in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Sunday, Jan. 11, 2015. At the same time, Martelly and opposition officials were locked again in negotiations at a hotel, trying to forge a last-minute deal to resolve a standoff stalling elections. Martelly will rule by decree if they don’t resolve the political crisis by the end of Monday. (AP Photo/Dieu Nalio Chery)
A masked protester gestures during a protest demanding the resignation of President Michel Martelly in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Sunday, Jan. 11, 2015. At the same time, Martelly and opposition officials were locked again in negotiations at a hotel, trying to forge a last-minute deal to resolve a standoff stalling elections. Martelly will rule by decree if they don’t resolve the political crisis by the end of Monday. (AP Photo/Dieu Nalio Chery)
Demonstrators set up a street barricade during a protest demanding the resignation of President Michel Martelly in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Sunday, Jan. 11, 2015. At the same time, Martelly and opposition officials were locked again in negotiations at a hotel, trying to forge a last-minute deal to resolve a standoff stalling elections. Martelly will rule by decree if they don’t resolve the political crisis by the end of Monday. (AP Photo/Dieu Nalio Chery)