From October 28 to 30, a delegation from Haiti and representatives of the Venice Commission of the Council of Europe met for a series of high-level meetings organized by the Organization of American States (OAS) through its Department of Electoral Cooperation and Observation (DECO) of the Secretariat for the Strengthening of Democracy, as part of the follow-up to OAS Permanent Council Resolution 1237. These sessions focused on essential constitutional and legislative measures necessary to facilitate future elections in Haiti.

At the request of OAS Secretary General Luis Almagro, the Venice Commission issued an interim opinion in June 2024 on possible constitutional and legislative solutions for the conduct of future electoral procedures in Haiti. This opinion, although provisional, stressed the importance of a secure and inclusive electoral framework and underscored the principle that the Haitian people and their representatives will determine the conditions and timetable for resolving the current crisis.

Progress Toward the 2025 Elections and the Need for Security :

The Haitian authorities confirmed their intention to maintain February 7, 2026 as the target date for the inauguration of a new elected President. As participants discussed establishing interim steps toward this goal, all parties emphasized that the restoration of security is a fundamental prerequisite for the holding of the referendum and elections.

Support for constitutional reform and future elections :

In parallel with these efforts, the Steering Committee of the National Conference plans to launch a national consultation on constitutional reform starting on 7 November 2024, with a draft Constitution expected by the end of December. This draft is expected to be presented to the public before a referendum scheduled for March 2025. The Venice Commission has offered to provide recommendations on the draft Constitution, while DECO remains available for technical cooperation on specific issues, if requested by the Haitian authorities.

Commitment to transparency and continued international collaboration :

The Haitian authorities have committed to keeping the public and international partners informed of the progress of these initiatives. In a spirit of collaboration, Haiti, the Venice Commission, and the OAS committed to open channels of communication and consider a roadmap to support Haiti’s next steps following the adoption of a new Constitution. The conclusions of these discussions will be made public next week.

The Venice Commission is expected to issue its final opinion in December 2024 on potential constitutional and legislative solutions for Haiti’s electoral processes. This opinion will address several areas discussed during the meetings, such as the stability of electoral institutions, gender equality in elections, youth representation, voting by Haitians abroad, electronic voting, party financing and training, security conditions for voters and materials, and the right to vote.

See also :

https://www.icihaiti.com/en/news-43519-icihaiti-politic-a-high-level-haitian-delegation-discusses-the-situation-in-haiti.html

HL/ HaitiLibre