Haiti postpones general elections to December 13

Haiti's Provisional Electoral Council (CEP) announced a new electoral calendar, pushing the first round of general elections, a constitutional referendum, and legislative votes to December 13. These elections were initially slated for August 30.

The second round of presidential and legislative elections, along with votes for territorial collectives, is now scheduled for February 21, 2027. Final results for local elections are expected by March 12 of the same year. The CEP emphasized that the implementation of this new schedule is contingent upon achieving an acceptable level of security and securing the necessary financial resources for organizing the polls in a nation that has not held elections in a decade.

In a statement, the CEP described the upcoming elections as a "shared responsibility" requiring commitment from the government, political actors, and the international community. The council reiterated its commitment to conducting the process with independence, transparency, and impartiality. Haitian Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aimé had previously indicated in April that elections would only occur after armed gangs were subdued, foreshadowing potential delays.

Fils-Aimé stated at the time, "We continue to work to improve the living conditions of the population. We will put an end to the gangs. We will recover the territories. Then, we will prepare the country for the celebration of elections. Elections will be held at all costs." Haiti, the poorest country in the Americas, has been grappling with a severe crisis, particularly concerning high levels of insecurity. In the first half of this year alone, over 2,300 deaths were attributed to violence, according to United Nations data. The UN Security Council approved a plan last September to replace the Multinational Security Support Mission with a Force to Repress Gangs, which could comprise up to 5,500 military and police personnel.