PORT AU PRINCE, Haiti (CMC) —  Haitian Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aimé says the “the elections will take place this year, no matter what” as the Provisional Electoral Council (CEP) has announced the publication of the final list of approved political groups.

The CEP has scheduled the first round of long-awaited presidential and legislative elections, alongside a constitutional referendum, for December 13, this year, marking the first time Haitians will be casting ballots since 2016 when President Jovenel Moise was elected. Moise was later assassinated on July 7, 2021.

The preliminary results are expected to be published December 19, with final results for the first round scheduled for January 9, 2027. A second round of presidential and legislative elections, along with local elections, is scheduled for February 21, 2027 with final results for the second round of presidential and legislative elections scheduled for March 7, with final local election results expected March 12.

The electoral campaign for the first round is scheduled to begin October 5 and run through December 12. The campaign for the second round is scheduled for January 10 through February 20, 2027.

The council said that 17 out of the 18 political groups, representing 228 political parties have received approval to contest the polls.

The CEP is reminding the public that the registration period for political groups closes this Friday at 5.00 pm (local time) in accordance with the current electoral calendar.

The council also announced that 36 new registration centers have been added to the list of 29 other centers already operational in the West Department in its efforts to bring registration services closer to the population to facilitate their participation in the electoral process.

A CEP delegation is due to  visit several countries with large Haitian populations next week, including the United States, Canada, France, Chile, and Brazil. The objective is to assess the situation regarding the Haitian diaspora’s participation in the upcoming elections.

Meanwhile, as he toured the south of the island, Prime Minister Didier Fils-Aimé said “the elections will take place this year, no matter what,” and he urged eligible citizens to register to vote in order to participate in the upcoming election.

Minister of Youth, Sports and Civic Action, Pythagore Dumas, who travelled to the Horatius Laventure High School in Delmas 75 to register to vote, is also encouraging people, particularly the youth, to do the same in anticipation of the elections.

He reminded them that voting is not only a right but also a duty for all those who aspire to build a more just and democratic country.

During his visit to the South Department, Prime Minister Fils-Aimé met with Cardinal Chibly Langlois, Bishop of Les Cayes with the meeting providing an opportunity to discuss several issues of national interest, particularly the essential role played by the Catholic Church, alongside other religious denominations, in social life and in the search for lasting solutions to the challenges facing the country.

Through this initiative, Prime Minister Fils-Aimé said he intends to reaffirm the importance of dialogue with religious leaders and the various stakeholders as he issued a call for unity, responsibility, and collective commitment.