On the sidelines of the meeting of the Convention of Haitian political parties (CPPH) held last Friday, Mirlande Manigat spoke on the constitutional amendment, saying the amendment procedure was over and and that she thought that the country now needs a new Constitution.

"...Personally, I have already taken a position, I reiterate this position, the constitutional amendment process is finished, it is "marred" it's a shame, but it is over. I'm too committed to the rule of law, to the respect for the law, to the respect for the Constitution to have a contrary position. We must expect the end of the 49th Legislature to resume the procedure in a manner more clear and credible.

For now, it's over. Mr. Martelly has nothing to do, according to the Constitution, with the amendment of the Constitution. According to the Constitution, the President Préval had signed the amendment, had sent and published it in "Le Moniteur" [Official Gazette], there is something that has happened, who is at fault ? Who is responsible ? Because as I said, where is the real text ? Is the President of the Senate has a copy of what was really voted ? We do not know. Is in the National Palace that they have manipulated it ? It was necessary that all ministers agree because they all signed [...]

After [the publication in Le Moniteur], they are come to say that there was this and that [...] it's 'legal brigandage' I am too respectful of the Constitution, you're used with the positions that I always take and I think we need another Constitution , it's still my position [...]

There are things that I regret that have not been made, for which I agree like : the dual citizenship, the Constitutional Council and the Permanent Electoral Council [...] here were some proposals with which I disagreed, but basically I agree with them [...]

There is one thing that is very very important when talking of law, it's respect for what the law says and the respect of the time. There is a thing called the constitutional time and the constitutional time is exhausted."

See also1 :

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-4653-haiti-politic-the-cpph-recommends-to-notpublish-the-text-of-the-amended-constitution.html

HL/ HaitiLibre