New Stage of Inter-Haitian Dialogue: Candidates Rush In
the inter-Haitian dialogue organized by the Transitional Presidential Council (CPT), the submission of candidacies for the posts of president and Prime Minister offered a spectacle revealing the fragility of the Haitian political scene.
By Jean Wesley Pierre · Port-au-Prince
· 3 min read · Updated 24 April 2026
Translated from French — AI-assisted and reviewed by the editorial team. The French version is authoritative. Read the original · About our translation policy
Following the inter-Haitian dialogue organized by the Transitional Presidential Council (CPT), the submission of candidacies for the posts of president and Prime Minister offered a spectacle revealing the fragility of the Haitian political scene.
In a protocol meant to be solemn, an official responsible for receiving applications addressed the candidates in an astonishingly urgent voice: « Who is here for the post of Prime Minister? President? Step forward! » The intonation, almost theatrical, contrasted with the seriousness of the stakes: choosing leaders capable of governing the country after February 7, 2026. The hotel lobby thus transformed into a theater where solemnity mingled with the absurd, presenting a scene that was, to say the least, burlesque.
Influx of Candidates and Excessive Ambitions
Among the first applicants to come forward were Tranquilor Mathieu, a presidential candidate, and Maître Reynold Georges, whose access was denied by USGPN agents, followed by other local political figures.
National Coordinator of Diaspora Ayisyen Pou Lapè,
Tranquilor Mathieu, a doctoral student in international law at the Institute of Sciences, Technologies, and Advanced Studies of Haiti, holds a master's degree in judicial studies, and states he carries a project for an inclusive transition, in peace and national unity. All aspire to join the three-member presidential college proposed by the dialogue's resolution, composed of a representative of the CPT, a judge from the Court of Cassation, and a civil society member, alongside a Prime Minister responsible for the daily management of the state. This influx illustrates not only the extent of political ambitions but also the organization of the procedure: the protocol, though methodical on paper, struggled to channel the flow of candidacies, giving the impression that the solemnity of the event was crumbling in the face of on-the-ground reality. Some observers did not hesitate to describe the scene as « humorous », while acknowledging its real political importance. A Concrete, Yet Fragile, Stage The submission of candidacies constitutes the first tangible attempt to implement the resolution adopted during the inter-Haitian dialogue. Clovis Obas, a former PHTK parliamentarian, insisted that: « this phase constitutes the concrete step for implementing the dialogue's proposals ». However, symbolism and effectiveness are not synonymous: these submitted applications do not erase the structural obstacles weighing on the transition. Dr. Jean Hénold Buteau, a member of the steering committee of the Montana Accord signatories, emphasizes that: « The main difficulty lies in the actual inability to guarantee the application of the adopted resolution. » Persistent insecurity, political fragmentation, and the influence of international actors remain major impediments. The goodwill of the candidates and the CPT is not enough to overcome these realities. Between Solemnity and Protocolary Irony The scene in the Hotel Montana lobby perfectly illustrates this tension between formalism and absurdity: candidates rigorously submitting their applications, confronted by a protocol almost comical in its way of urging participants. Behind this apparent lightness lies a worrying reality: the submission of candidacies, however official, guarantees neither the continuity of the dialogue nor the effective implementation of the resolution. A Suspended Transition Tranquilor Mathieu and the other applicants embody political ambitions and hopes for national legitimation, but they face a considerable gap between symbolism and effectiveness. Between the theatrical injunctions of the protocol, international pressures, and security obstacles, the scene reflects all the complexity and uncertainties of the Haitian transition as February 7, 2026, approaches. Ultimately, the question remains: will this stage transform the dialogue's resolution into an effective political transition, or will it remain merely a protocolary episode in Haiti's institutional chaos? The coming days will provide the answer. Jean Wesley Pierre/ Le Relief
Tranquilor Mathieu, a doctoral student in international law at the Institute of Sciences, Technologies, and Advanced Studies of Haiti, holds a master's degree in judicial studies, and states he carries a project for an inclusive transition, in peace and national unity. All aspire to join the three-member presidential college proposed by the dialogue's resolution, composed of a representative of the CPT, a judge from the Court of Cassation, and a civil society member, alongside a Prime Minister responsible for the daily management of the state. This influx illustrates not only the extent of political ambitions but also the organization of the procedure: the protocol, though methodical on paper, struggled to channel the flow of candidacies, giving the impression that the solemnity of the event was crumbling in the face of on-the-ground reality. Some observers did not hesitate to describe the scene as « humorous », while acknowledging its real political importance. A Concrete, Yet Fragile, Stage The submission of candidacies constitutes the first tangible attempt to implement the resolution adopted during the inter-Haitian dialogue. Clovis Obas, a former PHTK parliamentarian, insisted that: « this phase constitutes the concrete step for implementing the dialogue's proposals ». However, symbolism and effectiveness are not synonymous: these submitted applications do not erase the structural obstacles weighing on the transition. Dr. Jean Hénold Buteau, a member of the steering committee of the Montana Accord signatories, emphasizes that: « The main difficulty lies in the actual inability to guarantee the application of the adopted resolution. » Persistent insecurity, political fragmentation, and the influence of international actors remain major impediments. The goodwill of the candidates and the CPT is not enough to overcome these realities. Between Solemnity and Protocolary Irony The scene in the Hotel Montana lobby perfectly illustrates this tension between formalism and absurdity: candidates rigorously submitting their applications, confronted by a protocol almost comical in its way of urging participants. Behind this apparent lightness lies a worrying reality: the submission of candidacies, however official, guarantees neither the continuity of the dialogue nor the effective implementation of the resolution. A Suspended Transition Tranquilor Mathieu and the other applicants embody political ambitions and hopes for national legitimation, but they face a considerable gap between symbolism and effectiveness. Between the theatrical injunctions of the protocol, international pressures, and security obstacles, the scene reflects all the complexity and uncertainties of the Haitian transition as February 7, 2026, approaches. Ultimately, the question remains: will this stage transform the dialogue's resolution into an effective political transition, or will it remain merely a protocolary episode in Haiti's institutional chaos? The coming days will provide the answer. Jean Wesley Pierre/ Le Relief
