Woman Wins Backing As Premier In Haiti

Claudette Werleigh became Haiti’s first woman premier Monday when legislators approved her, along with a plan to throw open to national debate a contentious project to sell state enterprises.

That debate will likely delay economic reforms and jeopardize some $130 million in foreign aid tied to reform.

Werleigh, who plans to replace 13 of 17 Cabinet ministers including pro-privatization Finance Minister Marie-Michele Rey, was unanimously ratified as prime minister by the Chamber of Deputies.

On Sunday, she got the approval of the Senate. She is to be formally installed today.

Werleigh’s is a caretaker government that should be replaced in February, after Dec. 17 elections to replace President Jean-Bertrand Aristide.

Aristide designated Werleigh to replace Premier Smarck Michel, who resigned in October over opposition to the privatization plan from most political parties, grass-roots organizations and labor unions.

Werleigh was Michel’s foreign relations minister. She had been social affairs minister in the provisional government that preceded Aristide’s election.