The key facts

  • Martelly registered under the Debloke coalition; 16 presidential candidates, 302 Senate candidates and 1,050 Chamber of Deputies candidates in total
  • An amendment to the electoral decree of October 6 removed the requirement for a certificate from the Bank of the Republic of Haiti
  • The candidate is under sanctions from Canada (2022), the US (2024) and the EU (2025); he rejects accusations of financing gangs

Registration and Its Status

Former Haitian President Joseph Michel Martelly registered online on Friday as a candidate in the upcoming presidential election, The Haitian Times reported. This brought the total number of registered contenders to 16. Martelly registered under the Debloke coalition, which includes former members of the Tèt Kale Party (PHTK) that he previously led. His registration remains preliminary: it requires the submission of documents and approval by the Provisional Electoral Council (CEP).

Rule Change

The registration became possible after an amendment to the electoral decree of October 6 removed the requirement to submit a certificate from the Bank of the Republic of Haiti. According to the outlet, this change made it easier for individuals affected by sanctions to participate, although US sanctions remain a potential obstacle for candidates included on the lists.

Sanctions and Accusations

Martelly is not on the UN sanctions list, but UN experts have accused him of helping finance armed groups and benefiting from illegal activities. He rejects these accusations. Canada imposed sanctions against him in November 2022, the US in August 2024, and the EU in December 2025; among the grounds cited were gang financing and drug trafficking. Martelly returned to Haiti on July 15 after several years abroad.

Reaction and Campaign Progress

Martelly's possible return to politics has drawn criticism among Haitians both inside the country and abroad — over concerns about his past and the weakness of the opposition. 'As I always say, the main thing was not to let him register, but everyone stayed silent,' said Ronmdi François, a young auto mechanic, to the outlet. 'However, judging by what I hear, if he has indeed registered, then he is already president, because I don't see a candidate who could stop him.' According to The Haitian Times at the time of publication, no major political leader had publicly endorsed or condemned his candidacy.

Difficulties of the Electoral Process

The electoral process faces persistent insecurity due to gang violence as well as technical problems. The start of the campaign, originally scheduled for Thursday, was postponed, and candidate registration was extended until October 31. The CEP promised to publish a revised electoral calendar. As of Friday, the council had registered 16 presidential candidates, 302 Senate candidates and 1,050 candidates for the Chamber of Deputies; registration and document submission began on August 20.