The President Jovenel Moise has defined the profile of the new government on his twitter account. The latter will be “inclusive”, “with the main mission to relieve the misery of the people, develop agriculture, energy and public infrastructure.” Previous political experiences show that it is impossible mission. First, time is playing against the president. Indeed, he has only three years left of his mandate, much of which will be absorbed by the elections. Secondly, social disparities (including the hardening of gender inequalities) and the dislocation of republican institutions are reaching their peak. No government will be able to repair the damage in so short a time.

Anyway, the choice of the new government team monopolizes the media debate and intrigues a certain fringe of public opinion. With reason, since the configuration of this new government is not without consequences on the continuation. But, something is shocking in the media debates and negotiations on the choice of Prime Minister, at least as they are staged on the twitter accounts of the main protagonists. Indeed, the designation of a Prime Minister does not appear in the field of the most probable cases. While we have a long tradition of feminist struggle, Haitians enjoy their political rights legally as do their male peers. But the custom, as always, eventually prevail over the legal and true gender equality policy. The male-male policy will be imposed once more.

Certainly, many women would think twice before boarding the Jovenel Moses administration. Not so much because of the specific obstacles to women’s political participation that Myriam Merlet revealed in her essay: the insecurity inherent in political activities in Haiti, the negative perception that women have of politics or even the sexist attacks. They would hesitate, because the bet is too risky, that is to say the probability of succeeding the mission assigned by the President of the Republic is thin. However, this calculation is valid for men too, albeit slightly. And many women are not afraid of risk and that’s good for the homeland. They are professionals of politics. They have experience of managing the public thing. They devote all their energy and life to politics. They master the history and rules of the political game of the Haitian political field. Because they militated in parties or political groupings. They have received discharge from their management of public affairs and have never been involved in corruption scandals. These feminine individualities, though they are counted on the fingers of one hand, are ideal candidates. So how is it that their designation is unheard of the current political negotiations? They have received discharge from their management of public affairs and have never been involved in corruption scandals. These feminine individualities, though they are counted on the fingers of one hand, are ideal candidates. So how is it that their designation is unheard of the current political negotiations? They have received discharge from their management of public affairs and have never been involved in corruption scandals. These feminine individualities, though they are counted on the fingers of one hand, are ideal candidates. So how is it that their designation is unheard of the current political negotiations?

First, we must look at the main protagonists involved in the process directly. First, President Jovenel Moise himself. The latter is not a champion of gender equality, understood here as a political ideal to materialize, which engages all actors and actresses at the highest summit of the state. Although in his inaugural speech, he committed himself to “promoting parity between men and women” and “to take into account the question of gender in the formulation and implementation of public policies”. Social justice and the mitigation of social inequalities are the major gaps on the political agenda. His practical field of action, his performance as head of state revolves around the construction or breakthrough of kilometers of road. This should not be confused with a public infrastructure development policy. Because, the supply of the populations in drinking water and in electricity remains always at the stage of promise. In addition, road construction is not an end in itself. And more broadly, the relationship between public infrastructure and the reduction of poverty raises a lot of questions, particularly in view of the experiences of some African countries. And then, everyone knows the kind of public infrastructure both in their materiality and in their design. As proof, no woman has ever headed the Ministry of Public Works, Transport and Telecommunications (MTPTC) in charge of public infrastructure in Haiti. supplying people with drinking water and electricity is still at the promise stage. In addition, road construction is not an end in itself. And more broadly, the relationship between public infrastructure and the reduction of poverty raises a lot of questions, particularly in view of the experiences of some African countries. And then, everyone knows the kind of public infrastructure both in their materiality and in their design. As proof, no woman has ever headed the Ministry of Public Works, Transport and Telecommunications (MTPTC) in charge of public infrastructure in Haiti. supplying people with drinking water and electricity is still at the promise stage. In addition, road construction is not an end in itself. And more broadly, the relationship between public infrastructure and the reduction of poverty raises a lot of questions, particularly in view of the experiences of some African countries. And then, everyone knows the kind of public infrastructure both in their materiality and in their design. As proof, no woman has ever headed the Ministry of Public Works, Transport and Telecommunications (MTPTC) in charge of public infrastructure in Haiti. the relationship between public infrastructure and the reduction of poverty raises many questions, particularly in view of the experiences of some African countries. And then, everyone knows the kind of public infrastructure both in their materiality and in their design. As proof, no woman has ever headed the Ministry of Public Works, Transport and Telecommunications (MTPTC) in charge of public infrastructure in Haiti. the relationship between public infrastructure and the reduction of poverty raises many questions, particularly in view of the experiences of some African countries. And then, everyone knows the kind of public infrastructure both in their materiality and in their design. As proof, no woman has ever headed the Ministry of Public Works, Transport and Telecommunications (MTPTC) in charge of public infrastructure in Haiti.

The other protagonist of the negotiations is what the president sees as the lifeblood of the nation. These include political parties, trade unions, the hierarchy of the Catholic Church, the Protestant Federation, which mainly includes pastors of Protestant churches, chambers of commerce and industry, and so on. The vast majority of the nation ignores the real content and stakes of the discussions with these vital forces of the nation. Just if she is entitled to some photos posted on twitter. But the pictures speak. Meetings with these vital forces of the nation are actually meetings between guys. With the possible exception of the meeting with the voodoo-es where the vodouisantes were rather well represented. Furthermore, these forces are weak in the promotion of women’s rights. They do not carry any projects or audible speeches on the issue in any case.

The Senate Speaker, Joseph Lambert (who goes on presentation), one of the main protagonists of the process, his pro-women’s momentum is short. Both in duration and in their ideological scope. They speak exclusively on twitter during Mother’s Day. Or at the exit of the international forum of elected local authorities. But, in practice, he chairs uncompromisingly (at least never openly problematize) an assembly of 29 Senators with only one Senator. He never proposed social laws that could have a positive impact on women’s lives. While counting on a long and busy parliamentary career, Senator twice, and Speaker of the Senate three times.

In life as in politics, we give only what we have. The current protagonists will never designate a prime minister or a joint government.

Natacha Clergé

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