The Significance of February 7 in Haiti by Dady Cemaneve

When we hear the term “politics” in Haiti, we must first understand what the word “politics” means.

Politics refers to all actions, decisions, and the exercise of power used to govern a country, a group, or a political organization. It is the way leaders manage resources, laws, and relationships between people or political parties in order to lead.

Currently, Haiti is facing a political crisis that has deeply affected the country. A political crisis can affect many other systems. A political crisis can cause security crises, economic crises, social crises, and more.

February 7 is an important political date for the country of Haiti. It marks the end of a 30-year dictatorship (1986). It was a day when the people took to the streets to reclaim their rights. It also marked the beginning of democracy, where power belongs to the people.

Traditionally, it is the day when a head of state takes office. It represents courage and responsibility toward the people in respecting what they have chosen. It is a reminder of justice, freedom, and dignity for all Haitians.

We can clearly see that when a country experiences instability, as happened on February 7, 2026 — a day that is normally considered a day of change — things did not happen as planned. That day was supposed to be a day of transition. However, it did not happen as designed. Instead, the Transitional Presidential Council (CPT), which was responsible for organizing elections during the transition, did not fulfill its role. So once again, people took to the streets and rose up to demand elections so that change could come.

February 7, instead of being a day of joy for us, has become a day of sadness — a day of protests and popular movements, as people demand better living conditions. We long for a day when political transitions happen without protest because those leading have a desire to govern Haiti in a way that will lead to prosperity and security for the entire country.