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PoliticsHaiti sets year-end presidential, legislative elections conditional on security improvements
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Haiti's provisional electoral council announced on July 27, 2026, that presidential and legislative elections will be held at the end of the year, with the first round scheduled for December 13, 2026, and a potential second round on February 21, 2027. The elections are conditional on 'the establishment of an acceptable security climate' and sufficient financial resources, as the country remains ravaged by gang violence. Haiti has not held elections since 2016, and President Jovenel Moïse, assassinated in 2021, has not been replaced. A previous electoral calendar set for August 2026 has already been abandoned. The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) welcomed the announcement as an essential step. Voter registration began on July 20, and candidacies must be submitted by October 2. The country faces a severe political, economic, and security crisis, with gangs responsible for widespread murders, kidnappings, and displacement of nearly 1.5 million people.
Source report
A polling station in Port-au-Prince, January 29, 2017. HECTOR RETAMAL/AFP
Haiti's electoral authorities announced on Monday, July 27, that presidential and legislative elections will be held at the end of the year—contingent on "the establishment of an acceptable security climate," a significant challenge in this poor Caribbean nation ravaged by gang violence.
Election Calendar
According to the schedule published by the provisional electoral council:
- First round: December 13, 2026
- Second round: February 21, 2027
"Adherence to these deadlines depends on the establishment of an acceptable security climate and the financial resources necessary to continue electoral operations," the statement specifies.
Background
Haiti has not held elections since 2016. The country's last president, Jovenel Moïse, assassinated in 2021, has not been replaced. In December 2025, authorities had announced a first round for August 30, 2026—a calendar that has already become obsolete.
International Reaction
The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) welcomed the announcement, describing it as "an essential step" that "was eagerly awaited by Haitian stakeholders and the international community."
Key Deadlines
The published calendar includes the following milestones:
- Voter registration: Began July 20, 2026
- Candidate submission deadline: October 2, 2026 (for presidential, legislative, and local elections)
"The publication of the calendar will undoubtedly accelerate the essential preparatory stages of the ongoing electoral process, such as the registration of political parties, platforms, and coalitions, as well as voter registration," the institution stated.
Ongoing Crisis
Haiti, the poorest country in the Americas, has long suffered a political, economic, and security crisis. The situation has deteriorated significantly in recent years, with gangs multiplying acts of murder, kidnapping, rape, and child recruitment.
According to a June estimate by the International Organization for Migration, violence has driven nearly 1.5 million people from their homes out of approximately 11 million inhabitants. The organization noted that attacks are not limited to the capital.
Source
Politique : Toute l’actualité sur Le Monde.fr.Western
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Haiti Announces Year-End Elections Conditional on Security Improvements