Haitian Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aimé has reaffirmed that the country will hold long-delayed elections before the end of 2026, despite persistent gang violence and continuing concerns over whether authorities can create conditions necessary for a credible national vote.
During a tour of Haiti’s southern region, Fils-Aimé delivered an emphatic message on the government’s electoral plans, declaring that “the elections will take place this year, no matter what.” His comments come as authorities intensify preparations for what would be Haiti’s first general election in roughly a decade.
- Advertisement -
The prime minister has urged eligible Haitians to register and participate in the electoral process, while the Provisional Electoral Council (CEP) continues preparations for the vote.
Under the current electoral timetable, Haiti is scheduled to hold its first round of voting on December 13, 2026, with the electoral process expected to culminate in the installation of a new president in February 2027.
The latest commitment marks a notable shift from Fils-Aimé’s position earlier this year. In May, he acknowledged that the security situation was not sufficiently stable to support the elections that had originally been planned for August, saying he hoped instead to see voting take place before the end of the year.
Since then, the government and electoral authorities have continued working to keep the process moving despite the security crisis.
Security remains the biggest obstacle
Haiti’s elections have repeatedly been postponed as armed gangs have expanded their control, particularly in and around Port-au-Prince. The violence has severely restricted movement, displaced large numbers of residents and made it difficult for political candidates to campaign freely in some areas.
The government has nevertheless pledged financial and logistical support to the CEP. Earlier this month, Fils-Aimé said his administration was fully mobilized to ensure the electoral process proceeds, while voter registration was expanded cautiously into parts of the West Department, including Pétion-Ville, Delmas and Tabarre.
Each registration centre is also expected to serve as a polling location, allowing authorities to combine voter-registration and election infrastructure as preparations advance.
The CEP has also been working to establish political participation among Haitians living abroad. A CEP delegation is scheduled to visit countries with significant Haitian populations, including the United States, Canada, France, Chile and Brazil, to assess how members of the diaspora can participate in the upcoming elections.
Political groups prepare for election
The political landscape is also beginning to take shape. The CEP recently announced that 17 political groupings, representing 228 political parties, had received approval to participate in the electoral process. Registration for political groupings closed on August 14.
The scale of political participation reflects the intense interest in ending Haiti’s prolonged period without elected national leadership, although the large number of political actors could also create challenges for an already complicated electoral process.
Haiti has not held a presidential election since 2016. The political vacuum deepened following the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse in 2021, while subsequent transitional governments struggled to restore security and establish a credible pathway back to elected government.
Fils-Aimé became Haiti’s sole national leader after the Transitional Presidential Council’s mandate ended on February 7, 2026, leaving the country without an elected president.
A test of Haiti’s political future
The government’s determination to proceed with elections comes as Haiti faces the difficult task of balancing political renewal with security realities.
For many Haitians, an election represents an opportunity to replace prolonged transitional rule with a government possessing a democratic mandate. But the credibility of that process will depend heavily on whether voters can register, campaign, travel to polling stations and cast ballots without intimidation or violence.
Fils-Aimé’s declaration that the elections will happen “no matter what” therefore places considerable pressure on his government and the security authorities to deliver the conditions required for voting.
With the electoral machinery now moving forward and political groups preparing for the contest, Haiti is approaching a potentially historic vote. Whether the government can translate its determination into a secure and credible election will ultimately determine whether the country succeeds in breaking its years-long cycle of political transition.
