Youri Latortue (born 13 October 1967) is a Haitian politician who served as president of the Senate from January 13, 2017 to January 9, 2018. He was sanctioned by the Canadian and United States authorities for his involvement in the global illicit drug trade November 4, 2022.
He was born 13 October 1967 in Gonaïves.[1] A former member of the party Inite, he joined various right-wing parties. As leader of the right-wing coalition in the legislative elections of 2016, he won 29 seats in the Chamber of Deputies and 9 in the Senate. Having a senatorial majority, he was elected president of the Senate in January 2017 becoming the main opponent of the government.
Latortue is a first cousin once-removed of former prime minister Gérard Latortue.
In a leaked US Embassy cable from 2006, former US ambassador Janet Sanderson described Youri Latortue as "one of the most brazenly corrupt of leading Haitian politicians.” In other cables former US ambassador James Foley accused Latortue of being connected to drug traffickers and running "a network of dirty cops and gangs".[2][3]
- ^ "Youri Latortue". 3 June 2012. Archived from the original on 2012-06-03.
- ^ Coughlin, Dan (2011-07-29). "Haiti WikiLeaks Sparks Political Furor and Elite Drama". The Nation. ISSN 0027-8378. Retrieved 2019-05-02.
- ^ Clavel, Tristan (2017-03-27). "Money Laundering Case against Haiti President-Elect Threatens Island Stability". InSight Crime. Retrieved 2019-05-02.