Haiti Braces for Landmark Election as Record Number of Parties Register
PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP) — Haiti is preparing for its first general election in a decade, with a surge of political ambition demonstrated by the registration of a record 280 parties by Thursday’s deadline. While not all will ultimately be cleared to participate, the influx signals a renewed, albeit cautious, hope for change in a nation grappling with escalating gang violence and political instability.
The registration period culminated in scenes of both solemnity and celebration. Members of CAHDOA, the Collective of Haitian Actors for Development and Alternative Organization, arrived at the Provisional Electoral Council headquarters accompanied by a marching band, their chants of “We are on board!” echoing through the streets.
“Today the country needs a new leader to allow the population to breathe,” said Abel Decollines, a party member, expressing a sentiment shared by many.
Among those registering was the EDE party, Committed to Development, led by Claude Joseph, who served as prime minister during the tumultuous period following the July 2021 assassination of President Jovenel Moïse. Joseph and his supporters marched to the electoral council headquarters, advocating for an end to what he described as “the failure of eternal political transitions” in a post on X.
The political maneuvering unfolds against a backdrop of profound insecurity. Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aimé currently governs Haiti, having been appointed by a transitional presidential council that stepped down in February as mandated by law. Initial plans to hold elections in late August, with a runoff in early December, have been cast into doubt by the ongoing violence.
According to U.N. statistics, more than 5,900 people were reported killed and over 2,700 injured across Haiti in 2023. Gangs control an estimated 90% of Port-au-Prince, the capital, and have displaced a record 1.4 million people in a country of nearly 12 million.
“The people in charge need to provide security so campaigning can take place and people can choose who will govern them,” Decollines said, highlighting a critical prerequisite for a credible election.
Despite the challenges, some remain optimistic. “It’s a fact that the county is insecure, no one can deny that, but no matter what, there must be an election,” said Dalouce Désir, a member of EDE, founded four years ago. “We believe in the election, and we believe in democracy.”
Haiti’s Provisional Electoral Council has announced it will publish a final list of authorized parties by March 26, but the criteria for selection remain unclear.
The upcoming election represents a pivotal moment for Haiti, a nation long burdened by political turmoil and economic hardship. Whether it can deliver a path toward stability and progress remains to be seen, but the sheer number of parties vying for power underscores a deep-seated desire for change.
(AP Photo/Odelyn Joseph)
