Democratic Awareness or Strategic Political Communication: The Stakes of an Electoral Campaign at the Heart of Carnival

Port-au-Prince, February 15, 2026 —This carnival period is marked by the recent initiative of the CEP, consisting of conducting electoral awareness activities during the Jacmel parade. This initiative is part of a strategy that goes beyond simple institutional communication. By integrating the electoral message into a major cultural event of this scale, with a strong presence of Haitian youth, the CEP seems to seek to bring politics closer to the daily lives of citizens, especially young people, who are often more present in these festive spaces than in traditional political forums. Carnival as a Vehicle for Awareness The choice of carnival as a vehicle for awareness is not insignificant. This unifying moment is one of the rare spaces where social, political, or economic divisions tend to temporarily lessen. By introducing messages related to elections, the CEP seems to want to normalize the idea of citizen participation, presenting it not as an abstract obligation, but as a dimension integrated into collective and cultural life. This approach could help reduce the psychological distance between Haitian youth and electoral processes. The strong presence of young people and women's associations, displaying placards and t-shirts in the CEP's colors, also reveals a desire to target categories historically underrepresented in active political participation. The emphasis on slogans encouraging female participation reflects an implicit recognition of the deficit in women's inclusion in political institutions. If this dynamic is maintained, it could help strengthen the political visibility of women and, in the long term, influence the sociological composition of elected bodies. This campaign can also be interpreted as an attempt to rebuild institutional trust. In a context marked by the prolonged absence of elections and a persistent crisis of political legitimacy, any initiative aimed at recalling the importance of voting is part of an effort to rehabilitate the democratic process. Electoral education in festive public spaces can then serve to gradually reintroduce the idea of democratic alternation as a possible horizon. What Should We Expect? However, the real impact of such a campaign will depend on its continuity and credibility. One-off awareness, even if visible, is not always enough to sustainably transform political behavior. It must be accompanied by concrete guarantees: security, electoral transparency, trust in institutions, and real prospects for elections. Without these conditions, communication risks being perceived as symbolic rather than structural. A Campaign that Combines Culture with Citizen Participation For Haitian youth, the stakes are particularly crucial. A campaign that combines culture, citizen participation, and inclusion can foster a sense of national belonging and encourage civic engagement. Nationally, this could help strengthen democratic culture, foster social cohesion, and restore a political perspective to a generation often confronted with institutional uncertainty. Ultimately, this CEP initiative illustrates an attempt to reconnect politics with society through popular cultural channels. If it is part of a broader strategy for democratic revival, it could play a significant role in citizen mobilization, particularly among young people and women, and contribute to the gradual reconstruction of democratic trust in the country. Jean Wesley Pierre / Le Relief