Nine Aspirants Register for Haiti's December Vote Amid Gang-Security Fears
Dominican outlets warn armed groups could sway the December 13 election as nine hopefuls file with the provisional electoral council.
At least nine aspirants have registered so far on the platform of Haiti's Provisional Electoral Council (CEP) to compete for the presidency, though none is yet a definitively approved candidate, Diario Libre reported. Citing a list obtained by Le Nouvelliste and published September 23, the outlet named Claude Joseph (Les Engagés pour le Développement), Ricardo Jean-Pierre (Parti Nationaliste Haïtien), Gary Bodeau (Rekonsilye), Wilson Jeudy (Vision-Action-Réalisation), Wilner Joseph (Viktwa), Jocelerme Privert (Ayiti Transfòme), Maxo Joseph (Réveil des Citoyens Haïtiens), Munir Joseph Mourra (Mobilisation pour le Progrès d'Haïti) and Gandhy Dorfeuille (Ansanm Nou Fò). Diario Libre noted the CEP extended the online registration and document deposit deadline to October 9, meaning the roster may change, and that authorities must still review files. Joseph, a former prime minister and foreign minister, has a documented record of confrontation with the Dominican Republic, which barred his entry in 2022. Separately, El Nacional argued in an opinion piece that without more international troops to restore security, gangs controlling territory could condition the December 13 vote through violence and intimidation. The prime minister, Alix Didier Fils-Aimé, addressed arms trafficking and limits on foreign forces at the UN.