Haitian Prime Minister Jack Guy Lafontant has resigned amid calls for him to step down over his handling of a failed plan to raise fuel prices that set off a wave of deadly protests.
Lafontant told Haiti's Chamber of Deputies that he sent President Jovenel Moise his resignation letter on Saturday and the president had accepted it. Moise has not yet commented publicly.
The prime minister's abrupt resignation came ahead of a vote on a motion of censure Lafontant, a first step toward asking that Moise name a new prime minister to form a Cabinet to handle the crisis. The prime minister is the second highest official in Haiti after the president.
Lafontant was to answer questions about the July 6-8 riots that followed the government's attempt to raise fuel prices by up to 51 per cent as part of an agreement with the International Monetary Fund. At least seven people were killed and dozens of businesses were looted during the unrest.
Instead, Lafontant used the opportunity to announce his resignation, while in various parts of Haiti's small protests were held demanding the head of state step down.
Lafontant, a 57-year-old doctor who took office in March 2017, had said the price hikes of 38 per cent to 51 per cent for gasoline, diesel and kerosene were needed for Haiti to balance its budget.
Australian Associated Press
