Haiti establishes Council to lead electoral process

Haiti has moved closer to holding new presidential and legislative elections with the recent establishment of a Provisional Electoral Council (CEP).

The country has been without an elected leader since the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse at his residence near the capital on July 7, 2021. Moïse had taken office in February 2017 after winning the November 2016 election.

Elections are anticipated by 2026.

Earlier this week, the Council of Ministers approved the creation of the CEP, a long-standing request from the international community, to prepare for the first general elections since 2016. The council will oversee the election process and ensure its transparency.

Smith Augustin, a member of Haiti’s transitional presidential council (TCP), confirmed the formation of the electoral council, although it currently has only seven of the nine members required by law. Augustin indicated that the remaining two members are expected to be appointed soon.

The CEP includes representatives from various sectors such as farmers, journalists, human rights advocates, and the voodoo community. Its role is to organize the elections and help establish the legal framework for the electoral process.

The previous CEP was dissolved in September 2021 by former Prime Minister Ariel Henry, who accused it of political bias. Henry’s decision delayed the elections originally scheduled for November 2021, leading critics to accuse him of attempting to extend his grip on power.

Henry resigned earlier this year following the formation of the TCP. Its leader, Edgard Leblanc Fils, informed CARICOM leaders at their summit in Grenada in July that Haiti expects to hold presidential and legislative elections by the end of 2025.

“With the establishment of the new transitional body, we are now ready to set up our electoral system, which will allow us to hold general elections by the end of next year,” Fils said.

“We have also launched a national conference to review the Constitution, particularly to redefine the relationship between the state and its citizens, and set the direction for the country’s future operations. This is happening amid a challenging context, especially with the gun violence currently plaguing the capital and other areas of Haiti. Our goal is to bring the country out of this crisis,” he added. -(CMC)