December 5, 2025
The Provisional Electoral Council (PEC) officially welcomed Jacques Desrosiers as the new president of the institution on Monday, October 13, 2025, following the resignation of Patrick Saint-Hilaire. The installation ceremony, held at the PEC headquarters in Pétion-Ville, marked a symbolic turning point for Haiti’s electoral body.
In his farewell speech, Patrick Saint-Hilaire justified his resignation as an act of responsibility, stating that he was leaving his post with a clear conscience. “I did not run from difficulties; I simply completed a stage of service with transparency and dignity,” he said, expressing gratitude to his colleagues for their collaboration.
The new president, Jacques Desrosiers, a veteran of the press sector, was unanimously elected by his peers. Former Secretary General of the National Association of Haitian Media (ANMH in French), Desrosiers pledged to strengthen the PEC’s credibility and restore public confidence in the electoral process.
“We will build on our progress and reinvigorate this institution,” Desrosiers declared in his inaugural address, delivered before representatives of the UNDP, BINUH, and several diplomats. He emphasized three guiding principles for his presidency: transparency, accountability, and innovation.
The new PEC board brings together representatives from various sectors of Haitian society: attorney Jaccéus Joseph, from the peasant sector, serves as vice president; Peterson Pierre-Louis, from the Protestant sector, acts as secretary; and Nemrod Sanon, representing labor unions, serves as treasurer. They are joined by Schnaïda Adely, Yves Marie Édouard, Rose Thérèse Magalie Georges, and Marie Florence Mathieu, representing respectively the Vodou, women’s, human rights, and academic sectors.
While this diversity is seen as a sign of balance, several observers urge caution. In a context of persistent violence and institutional distrust, Jacques Desrosiers will have to prove that the CEP can, this time, deliver on its promises and lead the country toward credible elections.
