Jocelerme Privert is a Haitian politician, and a former Provision President of Haiti.

Early life and education

Jocelerme Privert was born on 1 February 1953 in Petit-Trou-de-Nippes.

Career

A former tax expert turned politician with more than 30 years experience in the public sector, Privert is the Senator for the Nippes Department inHaiti.  He is also the President of the Senate Committee on Economy and Finance.  He is a former foreign minister and interior minister.

He was elected as the interim President of Haiti on 14 February 2016, pending a general election in no more than 120 days.

Arrested on 4 April 2004, he was falsely accused of involvement in the La Scierie massacre in Saint-Marc. According to Haitian organizations defending human rights, dozens of people were killed in February 2004 in the town of Saint-Marc, an opposition stronghold at that time. Jocelerme Privert was released after 26 months in prison.

Privert was elected by the Senate as the provisional President of Haiti on 14 February 2016, pending a general election in no more than 120 days.

A general run-off election date was later agreed between Jovenel Moïse and Jude Célestin was originally scheduled to be held on 24 April 2016, but the Conseil Electoral Provisoire decided on 5 April 2016 to hold a new election in early October 2016.

On 14 June 2016, his presidential term expired, but he remains de facto president nevertheless as the National Assembly refused to meet to appoint a successor for him or conduct actions otherwise.

On 7 February 2017, he was succeeded by Jovenel Moïse presidential candidate of the political party Martelly founded, the Haitian Tèt Kale Party (PHTK) as the winner of the November 2016 election.

Personal life

Privert is married to Ginette Michaud.