Claude Joseph
{{Short description|Haitian politician and foreign minister}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2021}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Claude Joseph
| image = Claude Joseph, chancelier haïtien en 2020 (cropped 4x3).jpg
| caption = Joseph in 2020
| office = Acting Prime Minister of Haiti
| term_start = 14 April 2021
| term_end = 20 July 2021
| president = Jovenel Moïse{{efn|Until 7 July 2021.}}
| predecessor = Joseph Jouthe
| successor = Ariel Henry (acting)
| office1 = Minister of Foreign Affairs and Worship
| primeminister1 = Joseph Jouthe
Himself (acting)
Ariel Henry (acting)
| term_start1 = 4 March 2020
| term_end1 = 25 November 2021
| predecessor1 = Bocchit Edmond
| successor1 = Jean Victor Généus
| birth_date =
| birth_place =
| death_date =
| death_place =
| party = Les Engagés pour le Développement (2022–present)
| education = {{plainlist}}
{{endplainlist}}
}}
Claude Joseph ({{IPA|fr|klod ʒozɛf}}) is a Haitian politician who served as Minister of Foreign Affairs and Worship from 4 March 2020 to 24 November 2021, and served as acting prime minister of Haiti from 14 April 2021 to 20 July 2021.{{cite news|url=https://www.project-syndicate.org/commentary/haiti-cuba-crises-impact-on-latin-america-politics-by-jorge-g-castaneda-2021-07|title=Latin America's Summer of Discontent|first=Jorge|last=G. Castañeda|work=Project Syndicate|date=21 July 2021|accessdate=25 July 2021|archive-date=25 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210725220550/https://www.project-syndicate.org/commentary/haiti-cuba-crises-impact-on-latin-america-politics-by-jorge-g-castaneda-2021-07|url-status=live}}{{cite news|url=https://www.crisisgroup.org/latin-america-caribbean/haiti/handling-aftermath-haitis-presidential-assassination|title=Handling the Aftermath of Haiti's Presidential Assassination|first=Mariano|last=de Alba|work=International Crisis Group|date=23 July 2021|accessdate=25 July 2021|archive-date=25 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210725045524/https://www.crisisgroup.org/latin-america-caribbean/haiti/handling-aftermath-haitis-presidential-assassination|url-status=live}}{{cite news|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/world/us-politics/article-more-violence-feared-in-wake-of-haitis-president-jovenel-moises/|title='More violence' feared in wake of Haiti's President Jovenel Moïse's assassination.He was accused by citizens of assassinating the president Moïse but it was not investigated.|first=Adrian|last=Morrow|work=The Globe and Mail|date=19 July 2021|accessdate=25 July 2021|archive-date=25 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210725221119/https://www.theglobeandmail.com/world/us-politics/article-more-violence-feared-in-wake-of-haitis-president-jovenel-moises/|url-status=live}}
Joseph was appointed acting Prime Minister following the resignation of Joseph Jouthe. Following the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse on 7 July 2021,{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2021/07/07/haiti-president-assassinated/|title=Haitian President Jovenel Moïse assassinated at his home by unidentified gunmen|date=7 July 2021|last1=Merancourt|last2=Faiola|last3=Berger|first1=Widlore|first2=Anthony|first3=Miriam|newspaper=The Washington Post|access-date=8 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210707214812/https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2021/07/07/haiti-president-assassinated/|archive-date=7 July 2021|url-status=live}} Joseph led the Council of Ministers, which exercises executive power during a presidential vacancy.{{Cite news|title=The assassination of Haiti's president: What happened, and what could be next|language=en-US|work=Global News|url=https://globalnews.ca/news/8012305/haiti-president-assassinated-what-happened/|access-date=2021-07-09|archive-date=12 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210712004327/https://globalnews.ca/news/8012305/haiti-president-assassinated-what-happened/|url-status=live}} This role was disputed by Prime Minister-designate Ariel Henry and Senate leader Joseph Lambert.{{Cite web|date=2021-07-10|title=Haiti's senate says its head should replace assassinated president|url=https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/haitis-senate-says-its-head-should-replace-assassinated-president-2021-07-10/|access-date=2021-07-10|website=Reuters|archive-date=14 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210714063323/https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/haitis-senate-says-its-head-should-replace-assassinated-president-2021-07-10/|url-status=live}} On 19 July 2021, it was announced that Joseph would yield the prime ministership to Henry and remain the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Worship.{{cite news|last1=Hu|first1=Caitlin|last2=Gallón|first2=Natalie|last3=Rivers|first3=Matt|title=Haiti's acting prime minister Claude Joseph to step down amid power struggle after president's assassination|date=July 19, 2021|url=https://www.cnn.com/2021/07/19/americas/haiti-acting-pm-claude-joseph-to-step-down-intl/index.html|access-date=2021-07-19|website=CNN|archive-date=19 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210719150004/https://www.cnn.com/2021/07/19/americas/haiti-acting-pm-claude-joseph-to-step-down-intl/index.html|url-status=live}} He stepped down as the foreign minister in November 2021.
In February 2024, he was indicted for alleged complicity in President Moïse's assassination alongside Moïse's widow and a former chief of the Haitian police.{{cite news|url=https://edition.cnn.com/2024/02/20/americas/moise-widow-indicted-assassination-haiti-intl/index.html|title=Widow of Haiti's former president among those indicted over his assassination|newspaper=CNN|date=20 February 2024|first1=Alex|last1=Stambaugh|first2=Caitlin|last2=Hu|first3=Michael|last3=Rios|access-date=8 March 2024|archive-date=8 March 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240308120012/https://edition.cnn.com/2024/02/20/americas/moise-widow-indicted-assassination-haiti-intl/index.html|url-status=live}}
Early life and education
Joseph holds a doctorate in public policy from The New School in New York City where he was awarded a full merit-based scholarship as well as the Isador Lubin Fellowship, and worked as a university professor in the United States.{{Cite web|date=2021-07-01|title=Joseph, Claude|url=https://us.sagepub.com/en-us/nam/author/claude-joseph|access-date=2021-07-13|website=SAGE Publications Inc|language=en|archive-date=13 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210713014713/https://us.sagepub.com/en-us/nam/author/claude-joseph|url-status=live}} He has taught at the University of Connecticut and Long Island University.{{Cite web|title=Le Ministre des Affaires Étrangères et des Cultes|url=https://embajadahaiti.cl/web/ministre-des-affaires-etrangeres-et-des-cultes/|access-date=15 May 2021|language=fr-FR|archive-date=17 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210417015444/https://embajadahaiti.cl/web/ministre-des-affaires-etrangeres-et-des-cultes/|url-status=live}}
On 4 March 2020, he became Minister of Foreign Affairs in the government of Prime Minister Joseph Jouthe.{{Cite web|title=Nouveau Premier ministre en Haïti nommé après la démission du gouvernement|url=https://www.20minutes.fr/monde/3020951-20210414-haiti-nouveau-premier-ministre-nomme-apres-demission-gouvernement|access-date=15 May 2021|website=www.20minutes.fr|date=14 April 2021 |language=fr|archive-date=16 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210416195729/https://www.20minutes.fr/monde/3020951-20210414-haiti-nouveau-premier-ministre-nomme-apres-demission-gouvernement|url-status=live}}
Acting Prime Minister of Haiti
After the resignation of Jouthe, he was appointed interim prime minister by President Jovenel Moïse on 14 April 2021.{{Cite web|title=Haiti president appoints Claude Joseph as new premier|url=https://www.aa.com.tr/en/americas/haiti-president-appoints-claude-joseph-as-new-premier/2208757|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210417224450/https://www.aa.com.tr/en/americas/haiti-president-appoints-claude-joseph-as-new-premier/2208757|archive-date=17 April 2021|access-date=15 May 2021|website=www.aa.com.tr}} Moïse chose Ariel Henry to succeed him in this role, but did not sign Henry's appointment.{{Cite web|last=Charles|first=Jacqueline|date=July 5, 2021|title=A neurosurgeon with a public health portfolio is Haiti's newest prime minister|website=Miami Herald |url=https://www.miamiherald.com/news/nation-world/world/americas/haiti/article252574293.html|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210705213010/https://www.miamiherald.com/news/nation-world/world/americas/haiti/article252574293.html |archive-date=5 July 2021 }}
On 7 July 2021, President Moïse was assassinated and First Lady Martine Moïse was injured during an attack at their residence in Pétion-Ville. Joseph assumed political control of the government, and blamed the attack on "a group of unidentified individuals, some of whom spoke in Spanish and English."{{Cite web |url=https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-34162-haiti-flash-president-jovenel-moise-assassinated-by-mercenaries-official-updated-7am-+-video.html |title=President Jovenel Moïse Assassinated by mercenaries |publisher=Haiti Libre |date=7 July 2021 |access-date=7 July 2021 |archive-date=7 July 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210707125720/https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-34162-haiti-flash-president-jovenel-moise-assassinated-by-mercenaries-official-updated-7am-+-video.html |url-status=live }} At that time, Joseph stated that he was in control of the country.{{Cite news |last1=Dupain |first1=Etant |last2=McCluskey |first2=Mitchell |last3=Paget |first3=Sharif |last4=Picheta |first4=Rob |date=8 February 2021 |title=Haitian opposition picks interim leader as row over President's term limit intensifies |work=CNN |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2021/02/08/americas/haiti-opposition-president-term-protests-intl/index.html |url-status=live |access-date=7 July 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210603091849/https://edition.cnn.com/2021/02/08/americas/haiti-opposition-president-term-protests-intl/index.html |archive-date=3 June 2021}}{{Cite news |last1=Porter |first1=Catherine |last2=Santora |first2=Marc |date=7 July 2021 |title=After the killing of Haiti's president, the threat of further political violence escalates. |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/07/07/world/americas/haiti-president-killed.html |url-status=live |access-date=7 July 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210707113131/https://www.nytimes.com/2021/07/07/world/americas/haiti-president-killed.html |archive-date=7 July 2021 |issn=0362-4331}} The legal succession to the presidency was unclear.{{Cite news|title=Core Group urges Haiti's designated PM to form a government|url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/7/17/core-group-urges-haiti-designated-pm-to-form-a-government|access-date=2021-07-20|date=2021-07-17|work=Al-Jazeera|archive-date=21 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210721015218/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/7/17/core-group-urges-haiti-designated-pm-to-form-a-government|url-status=live}} Meanwhile, eight out of ten sitting members of Haiti's Senate chose the Senate speaker Joseph Lambert as the interim President on 9 July.{{Cite web |last=Méheut |first=Constant |date=11 July 2021 |title=The leader of Haiti's Senate is among those vying for power. |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/07/11/world/americas/joseph-lambert-senate-president.html |access-date=14 July 2021 |work=The New York Times |archive-date=12 July 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210712104424/https://www.nytimes.com/2021/07/11/world/americas/joseph-lambert-senate-president.html |url-status=live }}
The United Nations special envoy for Haiti, Helen La Lime, said on 8 July 2021 that Joseph would lead Haiti until an election is held later in the year, urging all parties to set aside differences.{{Cite web|title=Haiti's prime minister to lead country until election following president's assassination: UN {{!}} Watch News Videos Online|url=https://globalnews.ca/video/8013670/haitis-prime-minister-to-lead-country-until-election-following-presidents-assassination-un/|access-date=2021-07-08|website=Global News|language=en-US|archive-date=15 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210715232258/https://globalnews.ca/video/8013670/haitis-prime-minister-to-lead-country-until-election-following-presidents-assassination-un/|url-status=live}} The United States meanwhile recognized Joseph as the interim Prime Minister of Haiti.{{Cite web|title=US recognises Claude Joseph as Haiti's acting prime minister|url=http://radiojamaicanewsonline.com/local/us-recognises-claude-joseph-as-haitis-acting-prime-minister|date=2021-07-09|access-date=2021-07-20|website=RJR News|language=en|archive-date=20 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210720170948/http://radiojamaicanewsonline.com/local/us-recognises-claude-joseph-as-haitis-acting-prime-minister|url-status=live}}
A group of prominent diplomats to Haiti called the "Core Group", which is made up of ambassadors to Haiti from Brazil, the European Union, France, Germany, Spain and the United States, in addition to representatives to Haiti from the Organization of American States and the United Nations, called on Ariel Henry to take charge as the head of the government.{{Cite web |first=Dánica |last=Coto |date=17 July 2021 |title=Key diplomats, including from Canada, support Haiti's designated PM, snub interim leader |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/core-group-ariel-henry-support-1.6106993 |agency=Associated Press |publisher=CBC News |accessdate=18 July 2021 |archive-date=17 July 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210717234114/https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/core-group-ariel-henry-support-1.6106993 |url-status=live }}
On 19 July, Joseph announced in an interview with The Washington Post that he would be stepping down soon and handing over power to Henry, whom he had met with many times in the past week to resolve the dispute, but expected that he will remain the foreign minister in that government. He added that he was doing it to honor the late President Moïse's final wish.{{Cite news |first1=Anthony |last1=Faiola |first2=Wildore |last2=Merancourt |first3=John |last3=Hudson |first4=Felicia |last4=Sonmez |date=19 July 2021 |title=Haiti's acting prime minister Claude Joseph says he will step down amid leadership dispute |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2021/07/19/haiti-claude-joseph-ariel-henry/ |newspaper=The Washington Post |accessdate=20 July 2021 |archive-date=28 October 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211028151025/https://talk.washingtonpost.com/embed/stream?storyURL=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.washingtonpost.com%2Fworld%2F2021%2F07%2F19%2Fhaiti-claude-joseph-ariel-henry%2F&v=6.15.3&ts=1635434100000&renderTarget=true |url-status=live }} Upon being questioned by The New York Times, he rejected that he was stepping down due to international pressure.{{Cite web |first1=Catherine |last1=Porter |first2=Harold |last2=Isaac |first3=Michael |last3=Crowley |date=19 July 2021 |title=Haiti, Urged by Foreign Powers, Announces New Government |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/07/19/world/americas/claude-joseph-haiti-stepping-down.html |work=The New York Times |accessdate=20 July 2021 |archive-date=19 July 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210719233506/https://www.nytimes.com/2021/07/19/world/americas/claude-joseph-haiti-stepping-down.html |url-status=live }} Henry was sworn in on 20 July, while Joseph retained the post of foreign minister.{{Cite news|title=Haiti appoints Ariel Henry as new prime minister after president's assassination|url=https://www.france24.com/en/americas/20210720-haiti-appoints-ariel-henry-as-new-prime-minister-after-president-s-assassination|date=2021-07-20|access-date=2021-07-20|work=France 24|archive-date=20 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210720230523/https://www.france24.com/en/americas/20210720-haiti-appoints-ariel-henry-as-new-prime-minister-after-president-s-assassination|url-status=live}}
Post-premiership
Joseph was replaced as foreign minister by Jean Victor Généus on 25 November 2021.{{cite news|url=https://www.juno7.ht/claude-joseph-passe-le-maillet-a-jean-victor-geneus/|title=Claude Joseph passe le maillet à Jean Victor Généus comme nouveau chancelier|author=Jinaud Augustin|work=Juno7|date=25 November 2021|access-date=4 December 2022|language=fr-HT|archive-date=4 December 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221204133428/https://www.juno7.ht/claude-joseph-passe-le-maillet-a-jean-victor-geneus/|url-status=live}} He has defied Acting President Ariel Henry, instigating upheaval against the Haitian administration.
On 3 September 2022, Joseph launched his own political party named Les Engagés pour le Développement ("Committed to Development").{{cite news|url=https://presslakay.net/haiti-claude-joseph-lance-son-parti-et-tacle-la-classe-politique/|title=Haïti: Claude Joseph Lance Son Parti Et Tacle La Classe Politique|work=PressLakay|date=5 September 2022|access-date=15 September 2022|language=fr-HT|archive-date=15 September 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220915165803/https://presslakay.net/haiti-claude-joseph-lance-son-parti-et-tacle-la-classe-politique/|url-status=live}} On 7 September, Joseph was declared persona non grata by the Dominican Republic and is not allowed to enter that country.{{cite news|url=https://apnews.com/article/caribbean-haiti-dominican-republic-assassinations-luis-abinader-bb905687bc7434905a31d8c50aba8e16|title=Dominican president bars Haitian ex-leader from his country|author=Martín Adames Alcántra|work=Associated Press|date=8 September 2022|access-date=15 September 2022|archive-date=14 September 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220914110747/https://apnews.com/article/caribbean-haiti-dominican-republic-assassinations-luis-abinader-bb905687bc7434905a31d8c50aba8e16|url-status=live}}
On 19 February 2024, Joseph, along with Jovenel's widow Martine Moïse and former police chief Léon Charles, were indicted by a judge in connection to Jovenel Moïse's assassination. Joseph and Martine were charged with complicity and criminal association, while Charles was charged with murder and attempted murder.{{cite web |last1=Coto |first1=Dánica |last2=Samon |first2=Evens |title=Widow, ex-prime minister and former police chief indicted in 2021 assassination of Haiti's president |url=https://apnews.com/article/haiti-martine-moise-indicted-claude-joseph-leon-charles-9b70e2dd91e7bbb48737df89f76a689d |website=AP News |access-date=19 February 2024 |date=19 February 2024 |archive-date=20 February 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240220024716/https://apnews.com/article/haiti-martine-moise-indicted-claude-joseph-leon-charles-9b70e2dd91e7bbb48737df89f76a689d |url-status=live }} It is alleged that Joseph and Martine Moïse conspired together to replace Moïse with Joseph. Joseph denied the accusation and accused Ariel Henry of orchestrating the case for political reasons. He said that Henry was "the main beneficiary" of the assassination.[https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-68346679 Martine Moïse: Wife of Haiti's murdered president charged over his killing] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240319235253/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-68346679 |date=19 March 2024 }}, BBC
Notes
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References
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{{s-bef|before=Bocchit Edmond}}
{{s-ttl|title=Minister of Foreign Affairs and Worship|years=2020–2021}}
{{s-aft|after=Jean Victor Généus}}
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{{s-bef|before=Joseph Jouthe}}
{{s-ttl|title=Prime Minister of Haiti
Acting|years=2021}}
{{s-end}}
{{commons category}}
{{Heads of state of Haiti}}
{{Prime Ministers of Haiti}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Joseph, Claude}}
Category:21st-century Haitian politicians
Category:Foreign ministers of Haiti
Category:Long Island University alumni
Category:Prime ministers of Haiti
Category:The New School alumni