June 14, 2025
On Thursday, May 22, 2025, Joël Édouard Vorbe, a prominent leader of the Fanmi Lavalas party, delivered a sharp critique of the recently submitted draft constitution, denouncing it as a political distraction. Speaking on Magik9 radio, Vorbe dismissed both the constitutional initiative and the push for elections on the current timeline as “smokescreens” designed to divert public attention from Haiti’s most pressing crisis: national security.
“The situation is clear,” Vorbe stated. “Without restoring security across the country, no serious reform can take place. They’re trying to distract the population with a false agenda. Security was and remains the top priority—everything else depends on it.”
His comments came just one day after the National Conference Steering Committee, led by former Prime Minister Enex Jean-Charles, officially submitted a preliminary draft of the new constitution to the executive branch. The handover ceremony, held at the Villa d’Accueil, included members of the Transitional Presidential Council (TPC) and was presented as a step toward restoring institutional order through eventual general elections.
Vorbe, however, rejected that narrative entirely, framing the move as a desperate attempt to maintain appearances. “The authorities in place should have the integrity to admit their failure and step down,” he asserted.
Citing the TPC’s inability to reestablish security, Vorbe also called for the reopening of a national dialogue. In his view, only a truly inclusive transitional process—one that involves the country’s key social and political forces—can lay the foundation for a more stable future. He also warned against any externally imposed solutions, emphasizing that the path forward must come from within Haiti itself.
