Presidential Council vows to restore peace in Haiti for 2025 elections

Port-au-Prince.- Leslie Voltaire, president of Haiti’s Transitional Presidential Council (CPT), has pledged to restore peace in the country in preparation for the upcoming general elections, scheduled for between November and December 2025. This comes amidst escalating violence, including brutal massacres carried out by armed gangs. In a speech at the inauguration of two new members of the Provisional Electoral Council (CEP), Voltaire stressed the need for unity and national participation in the peace process. He emphasized that, although Haitians may be free in spirit, the nation remains imprisoned by the ongoing violence and instability.

Voltaire outlined a timeline for the electoral process: the draft Constitution will be completed by mid-January, with a referendum scheduled for March. The electoral process is set to begin in April, leading to the elections in November, with a potential second round in January 2026. He set February 7, 2026, as the date for the inauguration of the new president. Despite the challenges ahead, Voltaire vowed to ensure these dates are respected, with the CPT providing all necessary resources to support the electoral process. The newly sworn-in members of the CEP include Rose Thérèse Magalie Georges (human rights sector) and Yves Marie Edouard (environmental sector), joining the existing members representing various sectors of Haitian society.

The inauguration occurred amidst growing violence in Port-au-Prince, where several districts, including Lalue, Bas-Delmas, and Cité-Soleil, have seen violent clashes between gangs, leading to school closures and the destruction of property. At least one national school was set on fire by armed gangs. The Haitian National Police are intensifying efforts to secure vulnerable areas such as Drouillard, Tabarre, and Kenscoff.