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Next Haitian general election

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Next Haitian general election
February 2026
Presidential election
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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.

Background

[edit]
Main article: 2021 Haitian protests

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

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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

[edit]
Party or alliance Leading candidate Ideology Last election
Chamber Senate
Haitian Tèt Kale Party (PTHK) Ann Valérie Timothée Milfort Liberalism
Conservative liberalism 		31 6
Struggling People's Organization (OPL) Andris Riché Social democracy 9 1
Fanmi Lavalas (FL) Maryse Narcisse Social democracy
Populism 		6 1
Haiti in Action (AAA) Youri Latortue Nationalism
Federalism 		6 1
Inifos–LAPEH Paul Denis Liberal conservatism
Progressivism 		4[a] 1[a]
Fusion of Haitian Social Democrats (PFSDH) Edmonde S. Beauzile Social democracy
Third Way 		4 0
Renmen Ayiti (RA) Jean-Henry Céant Centrism
Social democracy 		3 1
Platfòm Pitit Desalin (PPD) Jean-Charles Moïse Dessalinism
Democratic socialism
Left-wing populism 		2 1
Rally of Progressive National Democrats (RDNP) André Michel Christian democracy
Conservatism 		0 0
Christian National Union for the Reconstruction of Haiti (UNCRH) Charles-Henri Baker Christian democracy
Protectionism
Right-wing populism 		0 0
En Avant Jerry Tardieu Anti-corruption DNC DNC
Les Engagés pour le Développement (EDE) Claude Joseph Centrism
Syncretism 		DNC DNC

Notes

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

References

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  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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