Haitian lawmakers Tuesday rejected President Michel Martelly's second pick for prime minister.

Lawmakers rejection of Bernard Gousse, a controversial lawyer and former justice minister, delivers a major blow to President Martelly's efforts to get a new government in place nearly three months after taking office.

Sixteen members of the 30-seat Haitian Senate voted against Gousse. The other members refrained from voting.

Mr. Martelly's first pick as prime minister, businessman Daniel-Gerard Rouzier was rejected by the chamber of deputies on June 21.

The political wrangling continues to hamper efforts to rebuild Haiti after the devastating 2010 earthquake.

President Martelly, a former pop music star, was elected in March with no political experience, and took office in May.