Haiti reached new levels of political instability as interim President Jocelerme Privert's mandate expired, leaving the impoverished Caribbean nation without a clear leader.

In an interview with AFP, Privert denied claims he has abused his power, and urged the National Assembly to act soon so the country's leadership is no longer in question.

Q: Your 120-day mandate has expired, so why have you have announced that you are still in office?

A: "On June 13, the National Assembly was under obligation to take action, but it didn't do so. As a leader, can I simply say I'm abandoning ship, considering it involves directing an entire country? That it involves managing the needs of 12 million citizens? As a public official, as head of state, and as a citizen, I can't abandon ship while another branch of government fails to fulfill its responsibilities. I will keep meeting my responsibilities until the National Assembly decides whether to extend or end the provisional presidential mandate."

Q: The opposition does not recognize you as president and sees your actions as illegal. What is your response?

R: "I am not seeking to obtain power at any price. I am primarily motivated by a duty to serve my country... I fit the profile, I am competent and have the experience, and yet I was not among the 54 presidential candidates (on the October 2015 ballot). Why am I president today? Because some men had responsibilities and did not fulfill them. Today, I am trying to correct their mistakes: they lack the morals, credibility and integrity to teach me a lesson. That's my response."

Q: The first round of presidential voting last October was scrapped and the electoral process is being revamped. How will you finance these new elections?

A: "The finance minister is currently taking all the necessary steps at the various public agencies to mobilize $55 million provided by the electoral budget submitted by the Provisional Electoral Council. For now, $30 million are available. We are seeking another $25 million from dividends that should be paid to the public treasury by some joint ventures, and from publicly available funds, so that the state can mobilize the $55 million needed to organize national elections for the country to have legitimate national authorities... We are waiting for any support and assistance that our friends can provide from abroad. But if our partners, who are grappling with their own financial problems, do not have the means to do so, we must find the funds ourselves."

Source: AFP