Haitian Authorities Confirm Target Date For Inauguration of a Newly Elected President

WASHINGTON, DC – The Organization of American States (OAS) and the Venice Commission of the Council of Europe say Haitian authorities have confirmed their intent to maintain February 7, 2026 as the target date for the inauguration of a newly elected president. 

The Washington-based OAS said it continues its work to assist Haiti in developing the “enabling legal framework” for its next general elections in collaboration with the European Commission for Democracy through Law, known as the Venice Commission.

The Venice Commission is the Council of Europe’s advisory body on constitutional matters that provides legal advice to its member states and, in particular, assists states wishing to bring their legal and institutional structures into line with European standards and international experience in the fields of democracy, human rights and the rule of law.

The Venice Commission also helps to ensure the dissemination and consolidation of a common constitutional heritage, “playing a unique role in conflict management, and provides emergency constitutional aid to states in transition,” the OAS said.

In keeping with the Commission’s policy and in line with the OAS Secretary General Luis Almagro’s commitment, the OAS said the work of the Venice Commission is being conducted “in close collaboration with the Haitian state and proceeds from the basis that all solutions to the current crisis must be Haitian-led and Haitian-approved.”

“While participants discussed establishing intermediate steps toward this goal, all parties stressed that the reestablishment of security is a fundamental precondition for holding the referendum and the elections,” said the OAS and the Venice Commission in a joint statement on Friday after a series of high-level meetings, from October 28-30, with a delegation from Haiti. 

The OAS hosted the meetings through its Department of Electoral Cooperation and Observation (DECO) in following up to the OAS Permanent Council Resolution 1237. 

“These sessions focused on essential constitutional and legislative measures needed to facilitate future elections in Haiti,” the statement said. “Haitian authorities reiterated their call for international support, particularly through a United Nations peacekeeping mission, to assist in restoring safety and stability.”

In parallel with these efforts, the OAS and the Venice Commission said the Haitian Steering Committee plans to launch a national consultation on constitutional reform beginning November 7, 2024, with a draft constitution anticipated by the end of December.

This draft is expected to be presented to the Haitian public ahead of a referendum planned for 2025. 

“The Venice Commission has offered to provide recommendations to the draft constitution, while DECO remains available for technical cooperation on specific issues, if requested by Haitian authorities,” the statement said. “Haitian authorities have pledged to keep both the public and international partners informed on the progress of these initiatives.”

In a collaborative spirit, the statement said Haiti, the Venice Commission and the OAS have “committed to open communication channels and to considering a roadmap to support Haiti’s next steps following the adoption of a new constitution.”

Conclusions from these discussions will be made available next week.

The Venice Commission is scheduled 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 for Haitians abroad, electronic vote, party funding and formation, security conditions for voters and materials, and voting rights,” the statement said. 

At the request of Almagro, the statement said the Venice Commission issued an Interim Opinion in June 2024 on potential constitutional and legislative approaches to elections in Haiti. 

“This opinion, while provisional, highlighted the importance of a secure and inclusive electoral framework, and underlined the principle that the Haitian people and their representatives will determine the terms and timing for resolving the current crisis.”

The OAS expressed its gratitude to the governments of Canada, France, and the United States for their “generous contributions, which made it possible to hold these meetings and to secure the participation of the Haitian delegation in these productive discussions.”