Click to copy

Haiti parliament ousts prime minister in no-confidence vote

March 19, 2019 GMT

FILE - In this Aug. 7, 2018 file photo, Haiti's prime minister Jean-Henry Ceant sits during his appointment ceremony at the national Palace in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. Ceant has been thrown out of office by a no-confidence vote on Monday, March 18, 2019, prompted by government dysfunction and inability to quash inflation, blackouts and frequent opposition protests that have paralyzed the country. ( AP Photo/Dieu Nalio Chery, File)

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP) — Prime Minister Henry Ceant was thrown out of office by a no-confidence vote Monday prompted by government dysfunction and inability to quash inflation, blackouts and frequent opposition protests that have paralyzed Haiti.

The Chamber of Deputies voted 93-6, with three abstaining, to replace Ceant as soon as President Jovenel Moise and the heads of parliament’s two houses agree on a replacement. Until then, Ceant and his Cabinet will remain in place with limited powers, raising the prospect of even rockier government performance.

Moise and Ceant have had frequent disagreements that have hampered Ceant’s ability to carry out his constitutional duty to run the state.

Ceant has held office since July, when his predecessor was removed for mismanagement of the end of subsidized oil aid from Venezuela.