16 years after the January 2010 earthquake, Haiti still paralyzed by political deadlock, notes former President Privert

January 12, 2026 marks 16 years since the devastating 2010 earthquake that destroyed Port-au-Prince and killed between 200,000 and 300,000 people. Each year, Haiti commemorates this tragedy, but today, former president Jocelerme Privert chose to go beyond mere commemoration by addressing the political deadlock that has paralyzed the country for years. Persistent Pain, but Also an Unanswered Question In a statement, Jocelerme Privert expressed his sympathies to the Haitian nation, but also raised a question that remains unanswered: what has changed since 2010? While the memory of the earthquake is still vivid, Haitian politics seems frozen. Indeed, the same governmental impotence that led to thousands of deaths during the catastrophe seems to persist through the inability of successive leaders to organize elections and establish solid institutions. Privert recalled that, according to Article 92.1 of the Haitian Constitution, this January 12 should have marked the opening of the first ordinary session of Parliament. But today, this legislative ceremony is overshadowed by an institutional crisis that has lasted for years, plunging Haiti into deep political paralysis. Despite democratic expectations, no president has managed to organize elections since 2016. The former president also highlighted the absurdity of the situation, where successive transitional governments seem more concerned with maintaining power than with implementing an electoral process. The Political Crisis: A Brake on Reconstruction The political situation is all the more concerning given that the country's reconstruction after the 2010 earthquake remains unfinished. In 16 years, infrastructure remains precarious, and the state seems powerless in the face of rising insecurity and poverty. Privert emphasized that while Haiti certainly faced a tragedy in 2010, today's challenges are equally dramatic, particularly concerning governance. Post-earthquake management has been marked by the absence of coherent public policy, and reconstruction efforts have been hampered by internal political struggles. Privert insisted that, six years after the last election, the issue of impunity and the lack of accountability of authorities remains unresolved. Successive governments, supposed to organize elections, have settled for unkept promises. This situation has widened a gap between leaders and the Haitian people, who continue to suffer the consequences of a lack of leadership and institutional weakness. A Country in Search of Renewal Today, Haiti stands at a historical crossroads. As in 2010, the population still faces colossal challenges. But unlike the earthquake period, authorities are now responsible for the country's political reconstruction. It is urgent that the country breaks free from the spiral of interim governments and renews its institutions. If Haiti hopes for a prosperous future, it will need not only to rebuild its physical infrastructure but also to repair its political system. Jean Wesley Pierre/ Le Relief