Haiti: Publication of the Referendum Decree: What New Step for the CEP?

PORT-AU-PRINCE.— In an always unstable political context, the Haitian government published, on Tuesday, July 8, a decree formalizing the organization of a constitutional referendum scheduled for next November. This announcement revives the debate around the legitimacy of the process and places the Provisional Electoral Council (CEP) before new responsibilities. The decree, signed by the members of the Transitional Presidential Council (CPT), Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aimé, as well as the members of the government, defines the modalities for organizing the referendum, including the deadline for voter registration and transparency control mechanisms. The Delicate Position and Role of the CEP While the CEP has been regularly criticized for its lack of neutrality and absence of a permanent structure, the publication of this decree places it back at the center of the institutional process and monitoring operations. “The council now has a clear legal framework allowing it to move forward,” a source close to the CEP confided, speaking anonymously. “But financial, technical, and security resources will be necessary to guarantee a credible process,” he continued. According to this internal source, the CEP plans to launch a national awareness campaign shortly. Missions have been deployed to regions such as the North, Northwest, South, and Southeast to prepare the ground. An appeal has been made to the international community to materially support the referendum operation. Trust Deficit within Civil Society At the same time, many voices are raised against this referendum project, accusing the authorities of wanting to force through a controversial constitutional reform that undermines the country's sovereignty, integrity, and the intrinsic values of the Republic. For Dr. Frantz Large, former president of the Southeast Chamber of Commerce, “It is an infamy to want to change the constitution to liquidate the rest of the country, without thinking of posterity.” Amos Louis, spokesperson for KOZEMAS, states that “this decree is merely a legal dressing for a flawed process. The country does not have the security and institutional conditions to organize a credible referendum.” Indeed, in certain neighborhoods of the capital, activists have already begun to mobilize against what they call a “referendum under guardianship,” fearing a hidden agenda behind the constitutional reform. Especially since the crucial security conditions for the vote to proceed are far from being met. A Decisive Step for the Transition This decree marks a new step in the political transition calendar initiated since the formation of the CPT in April 2024. It remains to be seen whether the CEP, weakened by external crises and challenges, will be able to fulfill its role optimally. This is a test of truth not only for the Haitian electoral institution but also for the current government. Failure will be a setback both for the constitutional reform and for the future of the transitional presidential council and the government. Jean Mapou