The president of Haiti (Haitian Creole: Prezidan peyi Ayiti, French: Président d'Haïti), officially called the president of the Republic of Haiti (French: Président de la République d'Haïti, Haitian Creole: Prezidan Repiblik Ayiti, pronounced [pɣezidã ɣepiblik ajiti]), is the head of state of Haiti. Executive power in Haiti is divided between the president and the government, which is headed by the prime minister of Haiti.[A133]
Due to an ongoing political crisis in Haiti, the Transitional Presidential Council began exercising the powers of the presidency on 25 April 2024. However, it dissolved as scheduled after no presidential election was held. Its act expired on 7 February 2026.
A number of qualifications for the presidency are specified by Chapter III, Section A (Articles 134 and 135) of the 1987 Constitution of Haiti.
The president is elected to a five-year term by popular vote. The president may not be elected to consecutive terms; they may serve a second term only after an interval of five years, and can not run for a third term.[A134]
To be elected president, a candidate must:[A135]
Be a native-born Haitian and never have renounced nationality;
Be 35 years old by election day;
Enjoy civil and political rights, and not have been sentenced to death, penal servitude, or the loss of civil rights for a crime;
Be the owner of real property and have one's habitual residence in the country;
Reside in the country at least five years before election day;
Have been discharged of responsibilities if he previously handled public funds.
Elections are held on the last Sunday in November in the fifth year of a president's term. However, in actuality Election Day is not fixed, per the election held in 2015. If no candidate receives a majority of the vote, a runoff is held between the top two candidates. The runoff candidate with the highest number of votes becomes president.[A134]
Each presidential term is supposed to begin and end on the February 7 immediately following the last presidential election. However, this has not always been observed, as when Michel Martelly became president on May 11, 2011.[A134]
Since 1950, the president is elected by universal suffrage of all citizens. Previously, civilian presidents were elected by the Chamber of Deputies.
Other qualifications for the presidency are specified by Articles 136 to 147, part of Chapter III, Section B of the 1987 Constitution. The president has no powers except those accorded to him in the Constitution.[A150]
The Constitution mandates that the president see to:
respect for and enforcement of the Constitution and the stability of government institutions;
regular operations of public entities;