2021_Haitian_general_election

Next Haitian general election

Next Haitian general election

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General elections were planned to take place in Haiti sometime in 2023, though they did not take place. The parliamentary elections had originally been scheduled for 27 October 2019,[1] but were postponed to 26 September 2021.[2] The elections were then postponed again to 7 November 2021.[3] General elections were scheduled to be held in Haiti on 7 November 2021 to elect the president and Parliament, alongside a constitutional referendum.[4] However, in September 2021, they were postponed following the dismissal of the members of the Provisional Electoral Council by acting Prime Minister Ariel Henry.[5] Prime Minister Henry later stated that he hoped to hold the elections in early 2022.[6] On 8 February 2022, he called for renewed efforts to organize elections.[7] 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 announced in March 2024 that he would resign to make way for a temporary presidential council.

Quick Facts

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 the 14 January protest, hundreds of thousands have taken 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."[8] 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.[9] Ariel Henry was appointed as 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.[10] On 11 September 2022, he stated that the government would begin the organization of elections by the end of 2022.[11]

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.[12]

In February 2024 however, Henry stated that the elections will be held when the government was able to control the security situation in Haiti.[13] The Caribbean Community later in the month said that he had committed to holding the elections by 31 August 2025.[14]

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, which would take effect when a transitional presidential council is formed, following a meeting in Jamaica with leaders of Caribbean states and U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken.[15]

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.[16]

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.[17]

Contesting parties

Notes

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

References

  1. Haiti's Political and Economic Conditions Congressional Research Service
  2. "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.
  3. "Haiti postpones election date to replace slain president". France 24. 12 August 2021. Retrieved 14 August 2021.
  4. "Haiti's presidential election postponed until November". AP NEWS. 12 August 2021. Retrieved 16 August 2021.
  5. 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.
  6. Thomas, Gessika; Ellsworth, Brian (7 February 2022). "Haiti's Henry urges elections amid calls for transition government". Reuters. Retrieved 12 February 2022.
  7. Bojarski, Sam (8 July 2021). "Interim PM: Haiti will move forward with fall elections". Haiti Times. Retrieved 8 July 2021.
  8. Thomas, Gessika; Marsh, Sarah (28 September 2021). O'Brien, Rosalba (ed.). "Haiti's elections postponed after electoral council dismissed". Reuters. Retrieved 14 September 2022.
  9. "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.
  10. 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.
  11. Sarah Morland (29 February 2024). "Haiti PM commits to elections by 2025, CARICOM to send team". Reuters. Retrieved 13 March 2024.
  12. 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...

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