Next Haitian general election

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Next Haitian general election
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February 2026
Presidential election
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Incumbent President

Transitional Presidential Council



Parliamentary election
←  2015–16
All 119 seats in the Chamber of Deputies
All 30 seats in the Senate

General elections are due to be held in Haiti in February 2026. [1] [2] [3] The parliamentary elections had originally been scheduled for 27 October 2019, [4] but were postponed to 26 September 2021, [5] and then again to 7 November 2021, [6] when wider elections were planned to elect the president and Parliament, alongside a constitutional referendum. [7] However, in September 2021 they were postponed again following the dismissal of the members of the Provisional Electoral Council by acting prime minister Ariel Henry. [8] Henry later stated that he hoped to hold the elections in early 2022. [9] On 8 February 2022, he called for renewed efforts to organize elections. [10] In December 2022, he signed an agreement to hold the elections in 2023, but stated in February 2024 that they will be held once the security situation was under control. Henry later committed to hold the elections by August 2025, but resigned in April 2024 to make way for a Transitional Presidential Council, which is expected to hold the presidential election in early 2026.

Contents

Background

In 2021, mass street demonstrations and violent protest marches began across Haiti on 14 January in protest at Jovenel Moïse's plan to run for one more year in power. Since then, hundreds of thousands took part in weekly protests calling for the government to resign. Moïse was assassinated on 7 July 2021.

On 8 July, interim prime minister Claude Joseph's office announced that despite the assassination, the parliamentary elections would still be held on the date set by the Provisional Electoral Council and that members of the opposition would be included in election timetable talks, stating that "The Head of Government promises to hold talks with opposition leaders and other actors in national life to calm the socio-political climate and facilitate inclusive and credible elections according to the timetable set by the Provisional Electoral Council." [11] The United Nations special envoy for Haiti, Helen La Lime, said that interim Prime Minister Claude Joseph would lead Haiti until elections were held later in the year, urging all parties to set aside differences following the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse. [12] Ariel Henry was appointed as acting prime minister later that month.

Henry dismissed all members of the Provisional Electoral Council, seen by many in the country as politically biased, on 27 September 2021. He stated that a new council would be appointed which would hold the elections in early 2022. [13] On 11 September 2022, he stated that the government would begin the organization of elections by the end of 2022. [14]

On 21 December 2022, Henry signed an agreement with political parties, civil society organizations and private sector members to hold the elections in 2023, with the new government scheduled to be sworn in on 7 February 2024. [15]

In February 2024, however, Henry stated that the elections will be held when the government was able to control the security situation in Haiti. [16] The Caribbean Community later in the month said that he had committed to holding the elections by 31 August 2025. [17]

On 11 March 2024, Henry agreed to resign as the leader of Haiti due to facing pressure following attacks by armed gangs who demanded he step down, once a transitional presidential council was formed, following a meeting in Jamaica with leaders of Caribbean states and U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken. [18] The council has a mandate till February 7, 2026 and is expected to hold the presidential election in early 2026. [19] Henry resigned in a letter signed on 24 April in Los Angeles when the council was installed. His outgoing cabinet meanwhile appointed Michel Patrick Boisvert as the interim Prime Minister. [20] [21] On 18 September, the council created a provisional electoral council to prepare for the election. [22]

Electoral system

The president of Haiti is elected using the two-round system, with a second round held if no candidate wins a majority of the vote in the first round.

The 119 members of the Chamber of Deputies are elected in single-member constituencies for four-year terms using a modified two-round system; a candidate must receive either over 50% of the vote, or have a lead over the second-placed candidate equivalent to 25% of the valid votes in order to be elected in the first round; if no candidate meets this requirement, a second round is held, in which the candidate with the most votes wins. [23]

One third of the 30-member Senate is elected every two years. The members are elected from ten single-member constituencies based on the departments, also using the two-round system. [24]

Political parties

Party or allianceLeading candidateIdeologyLast election
ChamberSenate
Haitian Tèt Kale Party (PTHK) Ann Valerie Timothee Milfort, 28 aout 2012.jpg Ann Valérie Timothée Milfort Liberalism
Conservative liberalism 		316
Struggling People's Organization (OPL) 3x4.svg Andris Riché Social democracy 91
Fanmi Lavalas (FL) Maryse Narcisse Aug 2016.jpg Maryse Narcisse Social democracy
Populism 		61
Haiti in Action (AAA) Youri Latortue 20171108.jpg Youri Latortue Nationalism
Federalism 		61
Inifos–LAPEH 3x4.svg Serge Vincent Liberal conservatism
Progressivism 		4 [a] 1 [a]
Fusion of Haitian Social Democrats (PFSDH) Edmonde supplice beauzile 2020.png Edmonde S. Beauzile Social democracy
Third Way 		40
Renmen Ayiti (RA) Jean-Henry Ceant (cropped).jpg Jean-Henry Céant Centrism
Social democracy 		31
Platfòm Pitit Desalin (PPD) Jean-Charles Moise Sep 2016.jpg Jean-Charles Moïse Dessalinism
Democratic socialism
Left-wing populism 		21
Rally of Progressive National Democrats (RDNP) Michel Andre (cropped).jpg André Michel Christian democracy
Conservatism 		00
Christian National Union for the Reconstruction of Haiti (UNCRH) Charlito Baker.png Charles-Henri Baker Christian democracy
Protectionism
Right-wing populism 		00
En Avant Jerry Tardieu.jpg Jerry Tardieu Anti-corruption DNCDNC
Revolutionary Force of National Accord (FREN) Senator Guy Philippe.png Guy Philippe DNCDNC
Les Engagés pour le Développement (EDE) Claude Joseph, chancelier haitien en 2020 (cropped 4x3).jpg Claude Joseph Centrism
Syncretism 		DNCDNC

Notes

  1. 1 2 Results from the previous election as Inite, which the party claims to be a successor of.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Politics of Haiti</span>

The politics of Haiti takes place in the framework of a unitary semi-presidential republic, where the president is the head of state and the prime minister is the head of government. The politics of Haiti are considered historically unstable due to various coups d'état, regime changes, military juntas and internal conflicts. After Jean-Bertrand Aristide was deposed, Haitian politics became relatively stable. The Economist Intelligence Unit rated Haiti an "authoritarian regime" in 2022. According to the V-Dem Democracy indices Haiti is 2023 the 4th least electoral democratic country in Latin America.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">President of Haiti</span> Head of state of Haiti

The president of Haiti, officially called the president of the Republic of Haiti, is the head of state of Haiti. Executive power in Haiti is divided between the president and the government, which is headed by the prime minister of Haiti.[A133] The Transitional Presidential Council has been exercising the powers of the presidency since 25 April 2024. It has a mandate to act that concludes on 7 February 2026.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Elections in Haiti</span>

The Constitution of Haiti provides for the election of the President, Parliament, and members of local governing bodies. The 2015–16 Haitian parliamentary election was held. The February 2016 Haitian presidential election was held following annulment of the February 2016 Haitian presidential election.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Provisional Electoral Council</span>

The Provisional Electoral Council is the electoral commission of Haiti. The CEP is responsible for presidential elections and parliamentary elections, and is Haiti's main and only legal election agency.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2015 Haitian presidential election</span>

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jovenel Moïse</span> President of Haiti from 2017 to 2021

Jovenel Moïse was a Haitian politician and entrepreneur who served as the 43rd president of Haiti from 2017 until his assassination in 2021. He assumed the presidency in February 2017 after winning the November 2016 election. During his term, Haiti experienced widespread protests and unrest. In the early morning of 7 July 2021, Moïse was assassinated and his wife Martine was injured during an attack on their private residence in Pétion-Ville. Claude Joseph assumed the role of acting president in the aftermath of Moïse's assassination.

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The current political, economic, and social crisis began with protests in cities throughout Haiti on 7 July 2018 in response to increased fuel prices. These protests gradually evolved into demands for the resignation of the president, Jovenel Moïse. Led by opposition politician Jean-Charles Moïse, protesters demanded a transitional government, provision of social programs, and the prosecution of corrupt officials. From 2019 to 2021, massive protests called for the Jovenel Moïse government to resign. Moïse had come to power in the 2016 presidential election, which had voter turnout of only 21%. Previously, the 2015 elections had been annulled due to fraud. On 7 February 2021, supporters of the opposition allegedly attempted a coup d'état, leading to 23 arrests, as well as clashes between protestors and police.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ariel Henry</span> Haitian politician and neurosurgeon (born 1949)

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jimmy Chérizier</span> Haitian gang leader (born 1977)

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Fritz Bélizaire is a Haitian politician and civil engineer who was nominated by four of the seven parties of the Transitional Presidential Council to act as Prime Minister of Haiti. Before being nominated, he was the Minister of Youth and Sports from 2006 to 2011 under President René Préval and as an executive in the Ministry of Public Works, Transportation and Communications. Bélizaire has been described as "little known", but was praised by Edgard Leblanc Fils, who was chosen the same day by the Transitional Presidential Council to be its president. Though designated by a majority, the choice was contested within the council. As a result, the "Indissoluble Majority Bloc" (BMI), composed of Smith Augustin, Emmanuel Vertilaire, Louis Gérald Gilles and Edgard Leblanc Fils, agreed to respect the procedure laid out in the 3 April 2024 agreement, thereby giving the other sectors a chance to make nominations. The council later started re-accepting submissions for the position of Prime Minister from 13–17 May, and on 27 May six of the seven members chose former prime minister Garry Conille as his successor, discarding the earlier vote that selected Bélizaire.

References

  1. ↑ "Without a president since 2021, Haiti forms council to hold first national election after a decade". Firstpost. 19 September 2024. Retrieved 19 September 2024.
  2. ↑ "Haiti sets up council to prepare for first elections since 2016". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 19 September 2024.
  3. ↑ Staff, A. O. L. (19 September 2024). "Haiti edges towards holding first elections since 2016". AOL. Retrieved 19 September 2024.
  4. ↑ Haiti's Political and Economic Conditions Congressional Research Service
  5. ↑ "Haiti announces elections and controversial constitutional referendum for September - Pledge Times". 29 June 2021. Archived from the original on 23 July 2021. Retrieved 8 July 2021.
  6. ↑ "Haiti postpones election date to replace slain president". France 24. 12 August 2021. Retrieved 14 August 2021.
  7. ↑ "Haiti's presidential election postponed until November". AP NEWS. 12 August 2021. Retrieved 16 August 2021.
  8. ↑ Haiti polls postponed after electoral body is dissolved BBC News, 28 September 2021
  9. ↑ Coto, Dánica; Goodman, Joshua; Luxama, Richard (29 September 2021). "The AP Interview: Haiti PM plans to hold elections next year". Associated Press. Retrieved 30 September 2021.
  10. ↑ Thomas, Gessika; Ellsworth, Brian (7 February 2022). "Haiti's Henry urges elections amid calls for transition government". Reuters. Retrieved 12 February 2022.
  11. ↑ Bojarski, Sam (8 July 2021). "Interim PM: Haiti will move forward with fall elections". Haiti Times. Retrieved 8 July 2021.
  12. ↑ "Haiti's prime minister to lead country until election following president's assassination: UN | Watch News Videos Online". Global News. Retrieved 8 July 2021.
  13. ↑ Thomas, Gessika; Marsh, Sarah (28 September 2021). O'Brien, Rosalba (ed.). "Haiti's elections postponed after electoral council dismissed" . Reuters. Retrieved 14 September 2022.
  14. ↑ "Prime Minister Henry gives commitment that Haiti will be in election mode before year end". Caribbean National Weekly. 13 September 2022. Retrieved 14 September 2022.
  15. ↑ "Haiti - FLASH : The PM signed a «historic» consensus for an inclusive transition". Haiti Libre. 22 December 2022. Retrieved 3 January 2023.
  16. ↑ Sahar Akbarzai; Jeremy Dupin (8 February 2024). "Haiti elections will take place when security improves, PM Henry says as protests grow". Re. Retrieved 13 March 2024.
  17. ↑ Sarah Morland (29 February 2024). "Haiti PM commits to elections by 2025, CARICOM to send team". Reuters. Retrieved 13 March 2024.
  18. ↑ Coto, Dánica; Sanon, Evens (12 March 2024). "Haiti's prime minister says he'll resign as violent gangs rampage. It's not clear who leads next". AP News. Associated Press. Archived from the original on 12 March 2024. Retrieved 12 March 2024. Haitian Prime Minister Ariel Henry announced early Tuesday that he would resign once a transitional presidential council is created...
  19. ↑ "Haiti finalises deal to form transitional council in bid to end gang chaos". France 24. 9 April 2024. Retrieved 29 April 2024.
  20. ↑ Bio, Demian (25 April 2024). "Ariel Henry resigns as Haitian PM in step toward formation of new government". The Latin Times. Retrieved 29 April 2024.
  21. ↑ Coto, Dánica (25 April 2024). "With fear and hope, Haiti warily welcomes new governing council as gang-ravaged country seeks peace". Associated Press. Retrieved 29 April 2024.
  22. ↑ "Haiti creates a provisional electoral council to prepare for the first elections since 2016". Associated Press. 19 September 2024. Retrieved 19 September 2024.
  23. ↑ Chambre des Députés (Chamber of Deputies): Electoral system IPU
  24. ↑ Sénat (Senate): Electoral system IPU
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