Spanish
Port-au-Prince.- The reduction of the age to be president, deputy, mayor and senator, the election of a governor at the head of each department (province) and the granting of new powers to the president of the Republic are some of the novelties introduced by the preliminary draft of the Constitution, presented today to the Haitian Government before the holding of a referendum to decide its approval.
The text delivered by a steering committee establishes that the President of the Republic will be the head of State and Government, and may appoint a prime minister "to assist him in the coordination of government action".
The country's highest authorities reported in a statement that the preliminary draft will be analyzed with "rigor" and "serenity" in a broad national dialogue that will include all sectors of the country for the realization of a "constructive and respectful of differences" citizen debate.
The piece to be debated proposes that all elected offices be for five years, to match that of the Presidency of the Republic.
The number of ministers cannot exceed fifteen and that of senators is set at two per department, unlike the three established by the current Constitution.
Likewise, the number of senators representing Haitians living abroad is set at two.
This preliminary draft of the Constitution sets the minimum age to be president of the Republic at 30 years old, a deputy and mayor at 21, and a senator at 25 years old.
"The President of the Republic appoints ministers and terminates their functions. He may appoint Secretaries of State when he deems it necessary (...). He chooses, from among the ministers holding a ministerial portfolio, a Prime Minister who assists him in coordinating government action," reads the document made public today.
Each geographical department will be administered by a governor elected by universal suffrage for a period of five years. One can be a departmental governor from the age of 25.
"The Assembly of Governors forms the Interdepartmental Council which, in collaboration with the Executive, studies and plans the decentralization and development projects of the country from a social, economic, commercial, agricultural and industrial point of view," it is established in the 61-page document.
"The right to real estate property is also granted to foreigners residing in Haiti and to foreign companies for the needs of their agricultural, commercial, industrial, religious, humanitarian or educational activities, within the limits and conditions determined by law," stipulates the draft bill.
However, no foreigner can own real estate delimited by the Haitian land border. The foreigner may be expelled from the territory of the Republic when he interferes in the political life of the country and in the cases determined by law. The document recognizes the right of asylum for political refugees.
An innovative project?
For the Government, the presentation of the preliminary draft of the new Constitution constitutes "a decisive step in the transition", before adding that "the Republic of Haiti has taken an important step today in the democratic transition process".
During a ceremony held at the Villa d'Accueil, the members of the Presidential Transition Council (CPT), accompanied by the Prime Minister, Alix Didier Fils-Aimé, officially received from the former Prime Minister and President of the Steering Committee of the National Conference, Enex Jean-Charles, the preliminary draft of the new Constitution of the Republic.
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This act, both symbolic and fundamental, is a testament to the constant efforts made by the interim power to guide the nation towards a future of stability, institutional legitimacy, and sustainable progress, the Government emphasized.
Haiti is going through a deep crisis in practically all areas, with armed gangs controlling almost the entire metropolitan area of the capital, as well as other parts of the country.
The economy has been in the red for years, and thousands of people suffer from hunger, while many others have been forced to relocate due to violence.
