Haiti: Uncertainties about the Post-February 7th Period, Resurgence of Divergences

A scene resembling political theater unfolded this Thursday, February 5, 2026, at the Montana Hotel. On one side, political actors advocated for a two-headed government led by a president from the Court of Cassation; on the other, members of the Transitional Presidential Council who, in continuity with the resolution adopted during the inter-Haitian dialogue, also defended a two-headed executive, but structured around a presidential college composed of three members. The Call of Former Senator Jean Renel Sénatus As February 7 approaches, a highly symbolic date in Haitian political history, former Senator Jean Renel Sénatus, known as « Zokiki », launched a call for popular mobilization during a conference held on Thursday. According to him, the only credible solution to the current crisis would be the designation of a judge from the Court of Cassation to lead a transition capable of restoring constitutional order. In a politically charged message, he also challenged the current authorities: « There are only two days left for the members of the CPT to show that they are Haitians, there are only two days left for the Prime Minister to show that he is Haitian. » His proposal is a direct alternative to the project put forward by the Transitional Presidential Council (CPT), particularly that of a presidential college. Me Jules Lesly Appointed Provisional President: A Controversial Initiative Concurrently, a collective presented as gathering the « vital forces of the nation » announced the designation of Me Jules Lesly, a magistrate at the Court of Cassation, as provisional president of Haiti. The proponents of this initiative speak of a « historical resolution » aimed at ending what they describe as an institutional and moral collapse of the state. The proposed mandate would be based on: the decree of August 22, 1995,
the 2007 law on the judiciary,
and the spirit of the 1987 Constitution. The stated objective is to stabilize the country and organize elections leading, by February 7, 2027, at the latest, to a return to a democratically elected power. The priorities put forward include: the restoration of state authority,
the fight against corruption,
democratic revival,
and a social plan for the most vulnerable populations. However, this designation is not unanimous. Internal tensions within the opposition have emerged, particularly within the group known as « Cassation », where some actors reportedly disavowed the position associated with Jean Joseph Lebrun. This fracture illustrates the persistent difficulties in building a unified political alternative. The Inter-Haitian Dialogue and the Proposal for a Presidential College Within the framework of the inter-Haitian dialogue, notably organized at the Montana Hotel, another resolution proposes a two-headed government accompanied by a presidential college of three members: a representative of the Transitional Presidential Council,
a representative of the Court of Cassation,
a representative of civil society. It is in this context that Professor Charles Tardieu submitted, on Thursday, February 5, 2026, his application to the Presidential Council as an active member of Haitian civil society. This step reflects the desire of certain sectors to broaden the transition beyond traditional political actors alone. The Major Challenge: Restoring Public Trust Beyond institutional debates, the central question remains that of state credibility. In a context marked by insecurity, economic crisis, and prolonged political instability, the population primarily expects concrete and lasting solutions. As February 7 approaches, a recurring symbol of political transitions in Haiti, the evolution of power dynamics between these different initiatives could prove decisive for the country's institutional future and for the prospect of an effective return to constitutional order. Jean Wesley Pierre / Le Relief