Firing of Michele Pierre-Louis breaks a period of relative stability on the impoverished Caribbean island

This article is more than 10 years old

This article is more than 10 years old

Haiti's senate has triggered political uproar by firing the prime minister, a darling of western diplomats and donors.

A chaotic nine-hour session ended just after midnight with a vote to oust Michele Pierre-Louis, breaking a period of relative stability on the impoverished Caribbean island.

Eighteen of the chamber's 29 senators voted against the prime minister, citing the slow pace of economic recovery in the wake of four devastating tropical storms and hurricanes last year.

The move was a rebuff to Bill Clinton, the former US president and UN special envoy for Haiti, who told a recent investor conference in the capital Port-au-Prince that political risk was lower than it had ever been in his lifetime.

Hillary Clinton, his wife and the US secretary of state, phoned Haiti's president, René Préval, last week to discuss the coming senate vote and the "damaging" impact of the perception of instability, according to a US embassy spokesperson.

Pierre-Louis, a former teacher who took office just over a year ago, won the confidence of foreign donors with a business-like approach but lacked a strong political base. Préval, who appointed her, stayed on the sidelines as his own party spearheaded the ouster.

"I fear the decision will send the wrong signal to Haitian investors, the diaspora and foreign investors," said Prospery Raymond, Christian Aid's country representative. "The security situation improved markedly during her tenure and acute malnutrition was declining."

The prime minister's senate opponents complained of dire unemployment and poverty, with most Haitians living on less than $2 daily, and queried the spending of $197m (£119m) storm-recovery funds. However, few specific allegations were made in a televised session dominated by procedural wrangling and walk-outs.

Her supporters shouted "illegal" and "unconstitutional" from the floor before marching out, leaving opponents to vote 18-0 to fire her.

Pierre-Louis refused to attend, saying in a letter the result was a foregone conclusion. "I leave the senators of the republic to face their responsibility in front of the nation," she said.