Legislative Videos
Haiti: Senate Begins Talks on Electoral Council Members
- Thursday, June 28, 2012 12:25 PM
PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (defend.ht) – The Senate of the Republic began deliberations on its choices for three persons to serve on the Permanent Electoral Council (CEP). Senate President Simon Dieuseul Desras (Centre/Lavni) confirmed that hearings were being held while the Grand Cour is on retreat as he answered concerns surrounding the process of selecting electoral councilors.
One of the main concerns would be regarding a two-thirds quorum of senators required to confirm members of the CEP. Many believe that a two-thirds vote is required to select council members and being that the senate is functioning with only 20 of 30 senators that a vote of two-thirds would be impossible considering the Senate President cannot vote.
Senator Desras responded to the public that the regulations do not require a two-thirds vote but a two-thirds quorum, meaning 20 senators must be present and the majority vote would succeed.
"It takes two-thirds to choose by not to vote in. It does not say that it takes two-thirds majority to vote in, this is needed to make the choice, two-thirds must be present."
"For the choice to be valid it does not mean that two-thirds have to vote it."
Another matter of discussion, would be the selections of the lower house of the legislature, the Chamber of Deputies.
Desras was asked if there was an agreement between the Senate and the Chamber of Deputies that would state that the lower house would select 2 council members and the upper house 1. Senator Desras said there is no such arrangement.
"I don't know if there was an agreement with the former office [of the senate] that was here but we have never discussed these matters since I've been here."
Related 12.30.2011: Haiti: Electoral Council Members Fired by Presidential Decree
Related 05.03.2011: Democratizing Haitian Politics Starts with the Electoral Council
