Joseph Lambert (Haitian politician)

Joseph Lambért (born 5 February 1961 in Jacmel[1]) is a Haitian politician who is the president of the Haitian Senate, which currently comprises only 10 of its usual 30 senators.[2][3] Lambert has been the president of the Senate in 2006, 2018–2019 and since January 2021.

His claim to the presidency following the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse was disputed, due to a lack of constitutional guidance and the fact that only ten elected senators remained in the legislative body.[3] Acting Prime Minister Claude Joseph has also claimed to take charge of Haiti following the presidential vacancy in 2021.[4] The United Nations meanwhile recognized Joseph as the legitimate acting President.[5] On 9 July, a group of eight senators of Haiti nominated Lambert to replace assassinated Jovenel Moïse as president, but this move was not been recognized by the acting prime minister Claude Joseph.[3]

Lambert was set to be sworn-in as President of Haiti on 10 July, but he stated that it had been postponed by the senators, so that all of them could be present during the ceremony.[6] However, he later revealed to The New York Times that he had been made to abandon the swearing-in because of pressure from the United States, which had decided to recognize Ariel Henry as the interim Prime Minister and urged him to not declare himself as the President.[7]

After Henry started coming under scrutiny for his alleged involvement in Moïse's murder, Lambert again claimed to be Haiti's President and tried to have himself sworn-in at the Parliament building on 14 September 2021. A gunfight however broke out and Lambert was unable to enter. He was also warned against the move by diplomats of other countries.[8]