Former Senator Kelly C. Bastien
Port-au-Prince, August 25, 2026.- Invited on Monday, August 24 on Magik 9, Kelly C. Bastien, representative of the Deliverrans platform, presented the concerns of nine political parties regarding the electoral process. It stresses two essential conditions: security and state neutrality. According to him, voter registration was necessary, but it alone could not guarantee the success of the elections.
For Bastien, security must accompany all stages of the process, from registration to voting. He felt that citizens and candidates should be able to move freely between the different areas. The situation of internally displaced persons is also a concern, as their participation will depend on their ability to access electoral centres and, where conditions permit, return to their communities.
However, the former senator considers listing an important indicator. According to his projections, between 3 and 4 million voters could participate in the election. The number of persons registered will therefore allow to measure part of the potential for participation. But for him, this must be accompanied by minimum security conditions.
State neutrality is its second major concern. Kelly C. Bastien believes that public resources should benefit all political actors and should not be used to favour a particular group. It thus calls for a clear separation between the means of the State and the electoral interests of the parties.
The former parliamentarian argues that there is a need to avoid any situation that may favour the use of public resources for partisan purposes.
On the electoral decree, Mr Bastien maintained that the CEP should be able to explain clearly how it intended to apply the provisions of the text despite the criticisms and changes made. It considers that the Government, the CEP and the political parties each have a responsibility in creating the conditions necessary for the smooth running of the process.
A few months before the first round scheduled for December 13, 2026, Kelly C. Bastien defended an approach that went beyond the only material organization of the elections. For him, the credibility of the election will depend on security, freedom of movement, protection of displaced persons, state neutrality and equality among political actors.
W.A.
