280 Parties Register for Haiti's First Vote in a Decade

Record Number of Political Parties Register for Haiti’s Election

By Thursday's cutoff, a staggering 280 political parties had signed up to vie for seats in Haiti's first general election in ten years, though not all would make the cut. Still, the refugees were jubilant, anticipating a chance to help address their nation's myriad problems, largely stemming from gang violence and corruption.

CAHDOA, or the Collective of Haitian Actors for Development and Alternative Organization, a political party formed just a year prior, paraded to the headquarters of Haiti's Provisional Electoral Council, accompanied by a brass band. The air was thick with the sound of vuvuzelas, a cacophony of cheers and clapping echoing the simple declaration: "We're in!" Abel Decollines, a party member, voiced his hope that the general populace would be able to cast their votes in the election. "Today the country needs a new leader to allow the population to breathe," he told reporters.

Political Parties and Leaders Enter the Race

On Thursday, the EDE party, Committed to Development, created by Claude Joseph, who was prime minister when President Jovenel Moïse was shot at his own residence in July 2021, registered as well. Joseph and his backers, dressed in green and white, approached the election council's headquarters, their faces a study in seriousness. On X, Joseph declared that his party's goal is to dismantle Haiti's political dominance, a system "marked by the collapse of perpetual political transitions."

Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aimé has come to dominate Haiti's political scene, shaping it entirely. He accepted the position at the request of a transitional presidential council, which, according to the law, was scheduled to disband in early February.

Security Concerns Ahead of the Election

The Haitian government had planned to hold elections in late August with a runoff in early December, but the prime minister has now said that the first round will be held by the end of the year. Many individuals doubt it will happen due to continued gang violence. According to Decollines, those in power must ensure security so that campaigning can take place and citizens can choose who will govern them.

According to UN figures, more than 5,900 people were killed in Haiti last year, with over 2,700 injured. In Haiti, 1.4 million people have been displaced due to gang violence, and armed men control 90% of the capital, Port-au-Prince. "No one can deny that the country is insecure, but there must be an election," said Dalouce Désir, a member of EDE, a four-year-old organization. "We believe in the election, and we believe in democracy."

Electoral Council Review Process

Haiti's Provisional Electoral Council has stated that it will issue a final list of political parties authorized to participate in the election by March 26, but has not specified the criteria.