large protests in recent months that turned violent as opposition leaders and their supporters rejected his plans to hold a constitutional referendum with proposals that would strengthen the presidencyaccording to haitis constitution moise should be replaced by the president of haitis supreme court but the chief justice died in recent days from covid19 leaving open the question of who might rightfully succeed to the officejoseph meanwhile was supposed to be replaced by ariel henry a neurosurgeon who had been named prime minister by moise a day before the assassinationhenry told the ap that he is the prime minister calling it an exceptional and confusing situation i am the prime minister in office he saidon thursday public transportation and street vendors remained scarce an unusual sight for the normally bustling streets of portauprincemarco destin 39 was walking to see his family since no buses known as taptaps were available he was carrying a loaf of bread for them because they had not left their house since the presidents killing out of fear for their livesevery one at home is sleeping with one eye open and one eye closed he said if the head of state is not protected i dont have any protection whatsoevergunfire rang out intermittently across the city hours after the killing a grim reminder of the growing power of gangs that displaced more than 14700 people last month alone as they torched and ransacked homes in a fight over territoryrobert fatton a haitian politics expert at the university of virginia said gangs were a force to contend with and it isnt certain haitis security forces can enforce a state of siegeits a really explosive situation he said adding that foreign intervention with a untype military presence is a possibilitywhether claude joseph manages to stay in power is a huge question it will be very difficult to do so if he doesnt create a government of national unity