1st LD: Haitian president says to form consensus gov't within 48 hours

Haitian President Michel Martelly announced Friday that a consensus government will be formed within the next 48 hours to be led by newly elected Prime Minister Evans Paul, according to news reaching here from Haitian capital Port-au-Prince.

In a nationally-televised address, Martelly said "the weakness of our institutions and in particular the failure of the ... legislature, cannot and should not last. It is urgent to correct these deficiencies as soon as possible because the big loser in this crisis remains our Haitian nation."

Haiti has not held legislative or municipal elections for three years, leaving the parliament without a quorum as terms expired and Martelly ruling by executive authority.

In March 2014, the Executive, Parliament and political parties signed a pact to allow for legislative and municipal elections in October. However, the agreement was rejected by six senators who refuse to approve an amendment to the election law.

Thus, Haiti was prevented from electing 20 senators, 112 deputies, 140 municipal authorities and 1,140 assembly members and community representatives across the country in 2014.

Two thirds of the Senate and all members of the Chamber of Deputies will end their terms on Jan. 12, 2015, leaving a legislative vacuum if no new legislators are elected.

Haiti has been grappling with a protracted political crisis featuring complicated strife between political parties, severe social security problems and public discontent with the government.

Frequent violent anti-government protests in Port-au-Prince have damaged some infrastructure projects and resulted in casualties.

Former Prime Minister Laurent Lamothe was forced to resign on Dec. 14, 2014. The protesters fought on, also pressing Martelly to step down. Endi