By Arnold Junior Pierre, Gazette Haiti, Nov. 1, 2026
Economist Etzer S. Emile has officially joined the race for the Haitian presidency. He registered online on Saturday, October 31, 2026, on the platform of the Provisional Electoral Council (CEP), under the banner of the Solèy group. Security, employment, and social justice are at the heart of his political platform.
Etzer Emile is best known for his analyses of the Haitian economy, his media appearances, and his work in academia. With this candidacy, he is now moving from the role of analyst to that of political actor.
The candidate places safety, employment, and social justice at the heart of his platform. He believes these three sectors are interconnected and that it is difficult to revive the economy without improving safety. "The problem isn't the vehicle. It's the driver model that needs to change," he stated in a press release.
On the security front, Etzer Emile proposes strengthening the institutions responsible for security and justice. He also wants to improve intelligence gathering, combat the illegal trafficking of weapons, and reinforce border controls, all while respecting the law and human rights.
To create more jobs, he is focusing on infrastructure and administrative and tax reforms. He wants to attract investment in several sectors, including industry, agriculture, tourism, trade, and renewable energies such as solar and wind power.
Etzer Emile also promises to combat favoritism in public administration hiring. He wants to increase transparency, particularly by publishing government spending, and tackle corruption and impunity.
Protecting women from violence and discrimination is also among his priorities. The candidate states his desire to build a more responsible state, one that better serves the population, including the diaspora.
Etzer Emile's candidacy is part of a broader strategy by Gwoupman Solèy. Several other candidates have also registered under this banner. Artist Jean Jean Roosevelt is running for Senate in Grand'Anse, while journalist Nancy Lainé is seeking a seat in the Chamber of Deputies in Pétion-Ville. Journalist Bedça Zéphyrin, for her part, is a candidate for mayor of Cap-Haïtien.
According to data released as part of the electoral process, 21 candidates are registered for the presidency. The number of candidacies is much higher for other offices. The Provisional Electoral Council (CEP) lists 387 candidates for the Senate, 1,342 for the Chamber of Deputies, and 1,938 candidates for mayor.
At the local government level, 2,604 candidates are running for CASEC and 1,636 for ASEC. These figures demonstrate the scale of the electoral process, which must cover the presidency, Parliament, and local government.
The CEP currently plans the first round of the presidential and legislative elections for July 18, 2027. The second round is scheduled for October 4, 2027. These elections should allow Haiti to return to an electoral process after several years of political and institutional crisis.
Originally from Cavaillon, in the South, entrepreneur and university professor, Etzer S. Emile is married and father of two boys.
Posted Nov. 7, 2026