OAS rejects December 13 for elections in Haiti

Radinm also highlighted that he had expressed concerns about the preparation timelines during his last mission. He emphasized the need for internal dialogue in Haiti to determine a credible and satisfactory election date, adding that "the question is: Is Haiti ready for this? It’s not up to me to decide."

The initial electoral calendar of the Provisional Electoral Council (CEP), which had planned for a first round in December 2026 and a second round in February 2027, had been welcomed by the OAS in a previous publication. However, Ramdin reminded that the verification of candidates linked to criminal organizations falls under Haitian authorities.

This clarification ends the OAS support for a specific deadline and highlights the logistical, security, and political challenges that hinder the electoral process in Haiti. The emphasis is placed on the need for realistic discussions among Haitian stakeholders to ensure a credible vote.

The date of December 13 was initially proposed by the CEP and welcomed by the OAS, but growing concerns about security and preparation have led to this revision.

Persistent Challenges

Challenges include slow voter registration, a shortage of around one million national identity cards, as well as the continued influence of armed gangs in Port-au-Prince.