Fritz Alphonse Jean
Mar 24, 2025
PORT-AU-PRINCE, HAITI – Earlier this month, economist Fritz Alphonse Jean officially succeeded Leslie Voltaire as president of Haiti’s Transitional Presidential Council (CPT) during a ceremony at the Villa d'Accueil in Port-au-Prince. Jean becomes the third person to lead the CPT as part of the country’s rotational presidency system, following Edgard Leblanc Fils (May–October 2024) and Leslie Voltaire (October 2024–March 2025).
The handover of power was marked by a spirit of "mutual respect, friendship, solidarity, and continuity," according to Voltaire, who described his tenure as "arduous" but praised the rotating presidency system as a significant milestone for Haiti, one that reflects the growing maturity of parts of the nation’s political class.
Jean, a former governor of Haiti's Central Bank, will serve a five-month term until August 7, 2025, after which businessman Laurent Saint-Cyr is set to take over the presidency through February 2026.
In his inaugural address, Jean did not mince words about the state of the country, declaring, "Our country is at war today." He emphasized the urgency of tackling Haiti's severe security crisis, announcing plans for a "corrective war budget" and the training of more than 3,000 new recruits for both the police and military. These efforts are aimed at restoring order and addressing the escalating violence and gang rule that have plagued many parts of the nation.
In a reaffirmation of the council’s commitment to Haiti’s future, Jean underscored the importance of holding elections by February 7, 2026, the constitutional deadline, marking a long-awaited step toward a return to democratic governance. The country has not held a presidential election since the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse in July 2021, and the political turmoil has only fueled instability, which has contributed to widespread violence and economic disruption, including a breakdown in the flow of goods and services, which has contributed to food insecurity.
Haiti is the United States’ number one milled rice market, with more than 355,000 metric tons of rice exported in 2024, valued at nearly $267 million. The disruption of supply chains has significantly impacted the availability of this crucial commodity.
Jean’s government is expected to prioritize both short-term measures to address the security situation and long-term reforms that can pave the way for recovery, particularly in sectors vital to the country’s economic revival, such as agriculture and trade.
“It is our hope that Haiti will eventually return to a path of peace and prosperity, underscored by a commitment to constitutional order and the restoration of democratic norms,” said Bobby Hanks, Louisiana rice miller and chair of the USA Rice International Trade Committee. “We continue to work closely with Louisiana’s Senator Bill Cassidy to drive home the importance of Haiti’s political stability with our leadership at the U.S. Department of State, United Nations, and other Federal partners.”