September 20, 2026
In a letter made public this Thursday, Counselor-President Smith Augustin openly opposes an initiative led by a majority of CPT members seeking to remove its coordinator, Laurent Saint-Cyr. The stance highlights a new internal rift just days before the scheduled end of the transitional mandate.
The contested move follows the crisis triggered by the dismissal of Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aimé on January 27. That decision, initially supported by Smith Augustin, deeply divided the Council and strained relations with international partners, particularly the United States.
Supporters of the coordinator’s removal argue it would allow the appointment of a leader willing to formally validate the Prime Minister’s dismissal. Smith Augustin rejects this approach, denouncing procedural irregularities and deeming it inconsistent for an unpublished resolution to overturn an already formalized decision.
He further warns of the risk of an uncontrolled institutional spiral and deplores the absence of a consensual crisis-exit strategy. Announcing his withdrawal from any similar process until February 7, he calls for restraint and respect for institutional principles in what he describes as an extremely fragile moment for the transitional body.
