Haitian civil society proposes new framework to complete political transition

With the mandate of Haiti’s Presidential Transitional Council (CPT) set to expire on February 7, 2026, a leading civil society group has unveiled a proposal aimed at preventing a power vacuum and steering the country toward elections and restored security.

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In a document released Tuesday, the Civil Society Initiative (Initiative de la Société Civile – ISC) acknowledged that the CPT has failed to fulfill the objectives outlined in the April 3, 2024, political agreement, which tasked the body with restoring security, reviving the economy, revising the Constitution, and organizing elections. Under Articles 12.1 and 13 of that agreement, the CPT’s mandate cannot be extended beyond February 7, 2026.

Despite those shortcomings, the ISC said allowing the presidency to fall vacant is not an option, particularly as armed criminal groups continue to threaten national stability and the survival of the state. The organization is therefore calling for a national consultation process to establish a new transitional arrangement.

The proposal, titled “Proposal for Completing the Transition,” outlines a political framework to replace the CPT in the absence of applicable constitutional provisions. It suggests the creation of a 17-member deliberative assembly to manage the transition, chaired by the current CPT coordinator.

Under the plan, the assembly would include five representatives from political party coalitions, along with delegates from the business, labor, agricultural and religious sectors, women’s and human rights organizations, and representatives from Haiti’s Great North, Great South and the diaspora.

The ISC proposal also sets criteria for selecting new executive leadership. An interim president would be chosen based on competence and credibility, drawn either from civil society or senior state institutions such as the Court of Cassation or the Anti-Corruption Unit (ULCC). The prime minister would be selected either from the current officeholder, to ensure continuity in security matters, or from civil society.

To reduce partisan influence ahead of elections, the proposal bars members of political parties from serving as interim president or prime minister.

The document sets February 7, 2027, as the target date for the swearing-in of a newly elected president. It also states that the new executive leadership, together with the deliberative assembly, would evaluate current ministers and decide whether they should be retained or replaced.

The proposal is signed by Lionel Rabel, general coordinator of the ISC, and Rosny Desroches, the group’s executive director.