WASHINGTON, CMC – The Organization of American States (OAS) says it continues to assist Haiti in developing the “enabling legal framework” for its next general elections in collaboration with the European Commission for Democracy through Law, known as the Venice Commission.
In a virtual meeting convened by the OAS Department of Electoral Cooperation and Observation of the Secretariat for Strengthening Democracy on Friday and facilitated by the Special Representative of the OAS Secretary General in Haiti, the OAS said a delegation of the Venice Commission met with the chair and members of Haiti’s Transitional Presidential Council for discussions on topics related to the Commission’s “Interim Opinion on Possible Constitutional and Legislative Solutions to Conduct Future Electoral Processes” in Haiti.
The OAS said the Interim Opinion, issued in June 2024, followed an invitation by OAS Secretary General Luis Almagro to the Venice Commission in March 2024 “to analyze the legislative framework for Haiti’s elections, along with the relevant recommendations of past OAS Electoral Observation Missions, to identify the solutions mentioned above in preparation for future elections.”
The opinion was issued as an interim document pending discussions between the Venice Commission and Haitian authorities.
The meeting participants were:
- Edgard Leblanc Fils, chairman of the Transitional Presidential Council.
- Other members of the Council.
- Gandy Thomas, interim representative of Haiti to the OAS.
- Rapporteurs Michael Frendo (Malta), former vice-president of the Venice Commission, François Seners (France) and Eirik Holmøyvik (Norway).
- Simona Granata-Menghini, director and secretary of the Venice Commission.
- Pierre Garonne is the head of the division, Elections and Political Parties.
- Gerardo de Icaza, director of the Department of Electoral Cooperation and Observation.
- Cristobal Dupouy is the special representative of the OAS Secretary General in Haiti.
The OAS said the Venice Commission is the Council of Europe’s advisory body on constitutional matters. It provides legal advice to its member states and, in particular, assists states wishing to align their legal and institutional structures with European standards and international experience in the fields of democracy, human rights, and the rule of law.
The Venice Commission also helps to ensure the dissemination and consolidation of a common constitutional heritage, “playing a unique role in conflict management and providing emergency constitutional aid to states in transition,” the OAS said.
In keeping with the Commission’s policy and aligned with Almagro’s commitment, the OAS said the Venice Commission’s work is being conducted “in close collaboration with the Haitian state and proceeds from the basis that all solutions to the current crisis must be Haitian-led and Haitian-approved.”
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