The Associated Press

Tue, May 13, 2008 (6:25 p.m.)

Haitian legislators on Monday rejected President Rene Preval's pick for prime minister, extending a monthlong period without a functioning government for the troubled nation.

Spokesmen in the lower house of Parliament said international banker Ericq Pierre lost a vote that ended his candidacy 51 to 35, with nine abstentions.

Levaillant Louis Jeune, a leading opposition deputy, said legislators did not have faith in the political leadership of Pierre, a senior official with the Inter-American Development Bank.

"We didn't really believe in the plan that he had for the people of this country," he told reporters in the capital, Port-au-Prince.

Pierre, 63, could not immediately be contacted for comment. In an interview with The Associated Press last week, the candidate said Haiti must concentrate on long-term strategies to help the millions pushed deeper into misery by higher food prices.

On April 12, the Senate dismissed Prime Minister Jacques Edouard Alexis over criticism that his government failed to show leadership and mismanaged the economy before violent food protests that left seven people dead and destroyed hundreds of businesses.

Preval will have to nominate another candidate, who must win a vote of confidence in the two houses of Parliament.

Stephen Benoit, a member of Preval's Lespwa party in the lower house of Parliament, said the Caribbean country must unite behind the next nominee.

"We need to have a new prime minister in office soon," Benoit said.

Haiti is struggling to restore stability and rebuild its economy four years after a violent rebellion ousted President Jean-Bertrand Aristide.

The impoverished country is patrolled by about 9,000 U.N. peacekeeping troops and police.

Pierre had promised to back Preval's far-reaching plans to address soaring food prices, increase national food production and create jobs.

Preval nominated Pierre for the same position in 1997. But the Chamber of Deputies rejected the banker after he promised to push a U.S.-backed economic plan that would have laid off thousands of government workers and privatized state-run enterprises.