Contrary to opposition fears, President Michel Martelly will not rule by presidential decree on 12 January when the entire 99-member lower chamber and a further 10 seats in the 30-member senate (adding to an existing 10) were due to have become vacant. This, after a deal struck on 29 December between the executive, opposition controlled-legislature and judiciary to extend legislators’ terms. The resignation of Prime Minister Laurent Lamothe last month [WR-14-50] raised hopes for an end to the crisis caused by the government’s failure to hold long-overdue legislative (and municipal) elections. However the legislature’s refusal to ratify Martelly’s choice of a permanent replacement for Lamothe illustrates the fragility of the deal and unlikelihood of a swift end to the impasse.End of preview - This article contains approximately 658 words.
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