I. Introduction
1. In its resolution 1780 (2007), the Security Council extended the mandate of the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH) until 15 October 2008, and requested me to report on its implementation semi-annually and not later than 45 days prior to its expiration. The present report covers major developments since my report of 26 March 2008 (S/2008/202) and the progress made in the implementation of the mandate of the Mission as set out in Security Council resolutions 1542 (2004), 1608 (2005), 1702 (2006), 1743 (2007) and 1780 (2007), and presents further elements of a consolidation plan.
II. Political developments
2. During the reporting period, Haiti's fragile political consensus was severely put to the test following a Senate vote on 12 April to censure the Government of Prime Minister Jacques-Edouard Alexis. Four months of negotiations were required in order to obtain legislative approval for his successor, Michèle Duvivier Pierre- Louis, during which time Haiti was left without a fully functioning government. Additional efforts will be essential to further restore and strengthen cooperation among political groupings.
3. The censure of the Government took place following six days of increasingly violent demonstrations, from 3 to 9 April. The protests began as an expression of public frustration sparked by the rapid escalation in the global prices of basic commodities, which imposed severe hardship on the country's poor. However, as events unfolded, it became apparent from the level and scale of the demonstrations that they were being deliberately manipulated to serve a variety of political, criminal or financial objectives.
4. The protests largely subsided after an appeal for calm by President Préval on 9 April. Three days later, the Senate adopted a motion of censure, alleging that the Government had failed to act effectively to control the cost of living. That same day, President Préval announced a programme of short-term subsidies on imported rice and a medium-term plan to revive national agricultural production.
5. As required by the Constitution, the President sought in the following months to obtain legislative approval for a successor to Prime Minister Alexis. The latter remained in a "caretaker" capacity to manage current affairs. On 12 May and 12 June, respectively, the Chamber of Deputies rejected on "technical grounds" the appointment of Ericq Pierre, a senior official at the Inter-American Development Bank, and presidential adviser Robert Manuel. President Préval's third nominee, Michèle Duvivier Pierre-Louis, ultimately received the approval of the lower house on 17 July, and that of the Senate on 31 July. At the time of writing, the President and Prime Minister were conducting consultations with a broad range of political actors with a view to forming a new Government and building support within the Parliament for an eventual Statement of Government Policy, which, according to the Constitution, must be approved by an absolute majority in both houses.
6. Parliamentary dynamics remained fluid during the reporting period. For much of that time, activity in the Chamber of Deputies was often characterized by heated debates over allegations of corruption and mismanagement, which escalated into a shooting incident on 1 April. However, the Concertation des Parlementaires Progressistes (CPP) has emerged in recent months as a relatively cohesive mechanism, and played a significant role in facilitating the Chamber's ratification of Pierre-Louis. Within the Senate, while a group of 16 senators worked together to censure Prime Minister Alexis, a number of its members left the upper house on 8 May, upon conclusion of their terms of office. The Senate, which has 30 seats, is currently functioning with just 18 serving members, 16 of whom must be present to form a constitutionally required quorum. No date has been yet set for senatorial elections, which should have taken place in November 2007.
7. The April crisis led, inter alia, to the postponement of a high-level donors conference to launch the poverty reduction strategy paper, which had been scheduled for 24 and 25 April in Port-au-Prince, but was cancelled following the Senate's censure of the Government. The ensuing period of political uncertainty also hindered progress in a number of other development and civil service reform projects. Meanwhile, the legislative process has been significantly hampered, as, given its status, the "caretaker" Government has been unable to submit any draft legislation, including key bills such as the draft 2008 revised budget. The formation of a new Government will hopefully provide an opportunity to place these processes back on track and to tackle other long-standing issues. The parties have prepared a "governability pact" for consideration by the executive branch, which outlines a possible formula for reinforced collaboration between all branches of Government and political parties. The pact also lists a number of objectives that could be addressed through joint action. Among these is a proposal that a consensus be sought to support the modification of certain provisions within the 1987 Constitution deemed in some quarters to be problematic.
Elections
8. Several electoral events are scheduled to take place in the next three years based on the calendar prescribed by the Constitution. In addition to the delayed elections for one third of the Senate, these would include elections in November 2009 to renew the Chamber of Deputies and a second third of the Senate and to elect municipal and local officials. Presidential elections are scheduled to take place in November 2010.
9. The new electoral law, which was drafted by the Provisional Electoral Council and submitted by the Government to Parliament in February, was adopted by the legislature on 9 July and published on 25 July. It introduces a number of important changes, including an increase in the number of voting centres, a possible increase in the number of Deputies from 99 to 142, a provision for the inclusion of blank votes in elections results, and measures to increase transparency in the electoral process and improve compliance with the Haitian Constitution. Meanwhile, the ongoing update of the voter roll by the Haitian National Identification Office, in collaboration with the Organization of American States, has so far resulted in the registration of over 570,000 voters, from an estimated maximum pool of some 700,000 potential new voters.
10. The Provisional Electoral Council has initiated a comprehensive review of its existing structures and resources, both at central and local levels, in the light of the provisions of the new law. The new requirement for at least two voting centres in each communal section will necessitate the identification of more than 540 new voting centres throughout the country, beyond the 821 existing centres. Within the limits of its capacity and mandate, MINUSTAH is providing technical, security and logistical support to facilitate these exercises, and stands ready to provide further assistance as required.