Martelly Registers as Presidential Candidate in Haiti's Upcoming Election
Former president listed on the CEP's online platform under the Debloke coalition, becoming the 16th candidate as registration remains preliminary.
PORT-AU-PRINCE — Former Haitian President Joseph Michel Martelly registered online on Friday, Oct. 16, 2026, as a presidential candidate with Haiti's Provisional Electoral Council (CEP), bringing the number of registered presidential candidates to 16, according to Le Nouvelliste and The Haitian Times. Martelly, the konpa musician known as Sweet Micky who led the country from May 14, 2011, to Feb. 7, 2016, is running under the banner of Debloke, a coalition that includes former members of the Pati Haitien Tèt Kale (PHTK), the party he once led. The Haitian Times reports the online registration is an initial step; candidates must still submit required documents to the CEP's departmental electoral office for validation. The move follows a second amendment to the June 2 electoral decree on Oct. 6, which removed a requirement for a certificate from the Bank of the Republic of Haiti. According to The Haitian Times, U.S. sanctions remain the sole barrier for designated individuals. Martelly, who returned to Haiti on July 15, 2026, faces sanctions from Canada (November 2022), the United States (August 2024) and the European Union (December 2025) over allegations including gang financing and drug trafficking, which he has denied. The CEP reported 16 presidential, 302 Senate and 1,050 Chamber of Deputies candidates as of Oct. 16, with registration extended to Oct. 31.