The Government Nobody Deserves

[bcholmes]

On Sunday, President Rene Preval chose Ericq Pierre, 63, a respected Haitian economist with the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) in Washington, to be the country's prime minister.

— "Canada welcomes Haitian PM's appointment"

Oh, for Christ's sake. An economist with the IDB?

In THAC, we often have conversations about the almost-stolen election of 2006. Préval is one of the good guys, and there's evidence that the elections officials destroyed many of his ballots. If Haitians had not marched in the streets in protest over fishy early results, the election may have gone very differently. (Canada, by the way, brags about the $30 million that it spent on the elections).

One of the guys in THAC talks about how it's too easy for leftists to say, "Whew, the good guys won. Fight over." Really, Haitians saved the Presidency, but the balance of power in the Senate, municipal and other government bodies was compromised. When Alexis was forced out a few weeks ago, that was a real blow for Lespwa (Préval's new party) and for Lavalas. It's not surprising that the Convergence-dominated senate ganged up on him. How shocking is it that he's been replaced with an IDB economist?

Edit: Here are two leftist analyses of this announcement. This passage, from the second (and quoted in the first) is intersting:

Preval was also pressured to choose Ericq Pierre by several visiting foreign officials such as Alain Joyandel, French Secretary of State for Cooperation and Francophonie, Jose Miguel Insulza, Secretary General of the Organization of American States (OAS), and Miguel Angel Moratinos, Spanish Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation.

One of the big issues that's going to emerge in the new few years is that, with both Préval and Aristide now out of the running for next president, Haiti needs the next batch of respected and popular political leaders. One of the reasons I take Lovinsky's kidnapping so hard is that I believe that he could have one day become Haiti's president. He is known, respected and politically connected.

Comments

[laura-seabrook.livejournal.com]

So, they want Haiti to knuckle down and get loans or something? Can't help thinking about Zimbabwe - no matter what happens there it isn't going to be pleasant.

[bcholmes.livejournal.com]

No, they want Haiti to buy into Friedman-esque neoliberal trade policies. Loans are just part of the leverage they use to convince them to adopt those policies.

[laura-seabrook.livejournal.com]

Hmmm - isn't that the sort of stuff they try and foist on "failed states", or have I got it wrong?

[aquaeri.livejournal.com]

Be careful about using that "Friedman" word around me right now. I'm still angry (http://aquaeri.livejournal.com/46266.html).