January 28, 2026
On Monday, January 26, 2026, Moïse Jean-Charles, leader of the Pitit Dessalines party, stated on Radio Caraïbes that Emmanuel Vertilaire had acknowledged acting under external pressure. According to Jean-Charles, the Counselor-President felt constrained and believed he had no alternative in the face of the directives he received.
The Pitit Dessalines leader said he nonetheless advised Vertilaire on how to proceed in line with the party’s principles and political orientation. Moïse Jean-Charles asserted that the pressure described by Vertilaire stemmed in particular from a phone call from the U.S. Embassy.
During that exchange, Vertilaire was allegedly urged not to vote in favor of dismissing the Prime Minister. Jean-Charles denounced what he described as foreign interference that could undermine Haiti’s interests and the autonomy of national political decision-making.
For Moïse Jean-Charles, the situation illustrates the challenges Haitian political actors face amid external influences. He stressed the need to preserve national sovereignty and maintain coherence in the decisions of the Pitit Dessalines party.
