Presidential race: economist Etzer Emile runs under the SOLEY banner

Economist Etzer Emile is running for president under the banner of the political grouping SOLEY, according to the candidate list published by the Provisional Electoral Council (CEP). He appears as Etzer S. Emile among the 21 presidential candidates registered so far, alongside Gary Bodeau, Jean-Marie Junior Salomon, Jean Ernest Muscadin and Jocelerme Privert, among others.

SOLEY, described by Vant Bèf Info as the economist's political grouping, has spent several weeks expanding its electoral presence. On October 21 the outlet reported that Nancy Lainé Isaac, a candidate for deputy in Pétion-Ville, had registered with the CEP under the SOLEY banner, and that other municipal and CASEC candidates had joined it, notably in Grand'Anse and the Sud-Est.

Economist, teacher and entrepreneur

Born in Cavaillon, in the South department, Etzer Emile describes himself on his website as an economist, entrepreneur, author and university professor. Trained in Haiti and Taiwan, he studied economics at Quisqueya University, where he teaches, and sociology at the State University of Haiti's Faculty of Human Sciences, before earning an MBA in finance. He heads the consulting firm Haïti Efficace and has hosted a television programme on economic education. In 2017 he published a book on the reasons for Haiti's poverty.

In his public remarks he has long tied the economy to political stability. In 2022, as the gourde fell against the dollar, he argued that a stable exchange rate depended first on a stable political life, and called for action against corruption and smuggling and for discipline in public finances, Vant Bèf Info reported. In September 2023, when the border with the Dominican Republic was closed, he called for stronger local production and said Haiti "must and can diversify its trading partners" (translated from French).

A citizen initiative called Angajman had launched an online appeal asking him to serve "at the highest level of the State" (translated from Creole), while stating that it was not a declaration of candidacy. The final list of candidates will be published only after the files are verified.