Tuesday, July 22, 2008

Haiti nears confirmation of Pierre-Louis

After cementing the lower house's support last week, Michele Pierre-Louis, President Rene Preval's third pick in as many months to serve as the country's prime minister, is now set to face the Senate's imminent decision.

According to the AP, "parliamentary sources" said the senate is slated to hold its vote next week.

Meanwhile, reports of a campaign of slander and sexism against Pierre-Louis continue. A website to address the smears has been launched by her supporters. Despite the attacks, it seems increasingly likely that the Senate will be hard-pressed to overturn the 61-1 vote in the House.

Until recently, Pierre-Louis had been the director of Haiti's Foundation for Knowledge and Liberty (FOKAL), a non-profit dedicated to education and youth development and funded by George Soros.

If confirmed, Pierre-Louis would succeed Edouard Alexis who was given a vote of no confidence in April and consequently ousted over the escalating food crises. She would also be Haiti's second female prime minister in the country's history.

Sources: AlterPresse, AP, Kikeyacity, Reuters, www.MDPL.name

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