In 2026 or 2027, elections must take place in Haiti. Voters who, in previous contests, largely chose abstention will have to decide and vote with hope—the hope that the country will finally emerge from the quagmire. But a problem remains. The political offer, upon closer inspection, is still largely composed of incorrigible “rat do kale,” disguised “kale tèt,” and agents of chaos. Under new or old labels, these actors—and their backers—have real chances of being elected.

In Haiti, where hunger has aged and where “votes for 1,000 gourdes” have shaped so many misfortunes, the war chest of the corrupt will be formidable. Money, as often, will flow freely. No barrier exists to prevent dirty money from financing electoral campaigns.