Overview:
Etzer Emile, 41, a prominent economist in Haiti with diaspora ties, has officially entered the 2027 presidential race. His campaign launched a digital platform that aggregates policy proposals, volunteer recruitment, campaign updates and online contributions via Haiti’s MonCash and NatCash money transfer system.
Economist Etzer Emile has entered Haiti’s presidential race, joining a field of candidates seeking to lead the country in an Oct. 31 video that went viral when ardent supporters, especially young people, shared it widely.
The university professor, 41, is registered with Solèy, Haitian Creole for ‘Sun,’ a new political platform comprising 13 parties and associations. Its leaders say Solèy symbolizes light, as in what Haiti needs to exit its crises and move forward.
Emile’s campaign also launched a site that combines policy proposals, voter mobilization, campaign updates, volunteer recruitment and a digital donation system targeting contributors in Haiti and abroad.
“I have decided to step forward to help bring the country closer to the Haiti its people envision,” Emile said, adding that security, employment and social justice are his top priorities.
“This is the engagement I am committed to, before you.”
Emile’s candidacy comes the same week Haiti’s election organizers pushed the first round from next month to July 18, 2027, with a runoff and local elections set for Oct. 4. The Provisional Electoral Council’s (CEP) preliminary list shows 21 presidential candidates to date. The list is expected to grow as the registration process, scheduled to end Nov. 15, continues and political groups position themselves ahead of the long-delayed vote.
The current list includes several candidates with controversial histories, such as former presidents Michel Joseph Martelly and Jocelerme Privert, former lawmaker Gary Bodeau and current Miragoâne public prosecutor Jean Ernest Muscadin.
A digital age campaign raises questions about transparency
Like every other candidate, Emile is pushing his bid on major social media platforms to mobilize voters. In addition to his party’s website, which is under construction and promises to feature details about the platform’s political plan and the candidates to carry it, Emile has created his own campaign site. At voteretzer.ht, visitors can read Emile’s biography and policy proposals, follow campaign updates, sign up to volunteer and donate through Haiti’s mobile payment services.
The campaign says it will follow the electoral decree’s restrictions on foreign funding and implement a limit of 12 million gourdes, about $92,310, per donor.
Online political fundraising has become a trend this election cycle, with several presidential candidates, like Jude Elie of the Parti Unité Reformé (PUR), setting up websites to collect contributions. Haiti lacks a standard campaign-financing system. Weak institutions often leave the door wide open for money from any source to flow into political campaigns. However, this time, the Provisional Electoral Council’s decree sets campaign-financing rules in Articles 183 and 186.
Still, whether these rules will be enforced or a new standard for political campaign finance will be implemented remains to be seen.
Emile’s campaign uses a donation form and mobile-payment options familiar to people in Haiti. It requires personal identification information and a declaration about the source of the funds, signaling an effort to document contributions. But the public has no way to track participation or how much money the campaign receives. And it’s unclear how transactions will be reported to the electoral authorities.
“The campaign process is at its early stage,” Harry Luc, a spokesperson, told The Haitian Times via WhatsApp, saying the campaign will be transparent along the way to make people feel comfortable.
Emile outlines priorities but leaves questions about implementation
Emile, an entrepreneur and founder of the consulting firm Haiti Efficace, has built a reputation for his conference speeches on Haiti’s economic challenges. His candidacy moves him from public analysis into electoral politics. He has centered his campaign around three priorities: security, employment and social justice. His proposals address several of Haiti’s longstanding challenges, but the campaign has not yet provided enough detail for voters to know how it would finance or carry out his plan.
“The problem is not the truck. It’s the kind of driver that needs to change,” Emile, a native of southern Haiti, said in his campaign statement. He argues that Haiti’s crisis requires a government that protects its people, encourages wealth creation and accounts for its actions.
To achieve his three priorities, Emile said that if he wins, he will rely on a competent, experienced team of experts from different sectors. He added that his political platform also focuses on fielding qualified candidates for parliament and local elections to accompany him. But Solèy has not yet revealed any specific names from Emile’s team beyond a few candidates, with the most notable being singer and musician Jean Jean Roosevelt for the Senate.
On security, he proposes strengthening the country’s law enforcement and justice institutions, improving intelligence gathering, combating the illegal circulation of firearms and tightening border controls while respecting the law and human rights.
To create employment, he said, his government would build infrastructure and implement administrative and tax reforms intended to attract domestic and foreign investment. His plans include investment across industry, agriculture, tourism and commerce, as well as renewable energy, particularly solar and wind power.
On social justice, he promises equal treatment for Haitians, greater transparency in government spending and an end to patronage-based hiring.
Online supporters promote the Solèy slate
Soon after Emile announced his candidacy, many on social media reacted positively, with over 21,000 likes, nearly 5,000 comments and over 5,000 shares on Facebook alone.
One user, commenting as Naldo Filmmaker, urged Haitians to support Emile and other candidates associated with the political group.
“Etzer Emile is a true patriot,” the supporter wrote. “Respect for your work, your vision and your commitment to the country. We believe in you, my brother! We will all vote for you.”
Another user, Lydia Pierre-Gilles, wrote, “Finally,” as if to say the wait was over.
In a recent post, Emile was seen posing with social media darling Ariana Milagro Lafond at one of his party’s events.
“It’s always a pleasure whenever we meet and get a chance to chat, Ariana,” Emile wrote. “I encourage you in every initiative you undertake to grow personally, build your business and make a positive impact on the community.”
Ariana Milagro Lafond and Etzer Emile via a Facebook post.
Most comments supporting Emile’s candidacy emphasize his background, competence and family values. Supporters urge voters to weigh his proposals and concrete commitments to security, anti-corruption and socio-economic development against those of politicians who had led the country into the current mess.
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