1 president of haiti
1.1 political , economic factors
1.2 marriage
1.3 destabilisation
1.4 departure
president of haiti
in april 1971, assumed presidency of haiti @ age of 19 upon death of father, françois duvalier (nicknamed papa doc ), becoming world s youngest president. initially, jean-claude duvalier resisted dynastic arrangement had made him haiti s leader, having preferred presidency go older sister marie-denise duvalier, , content leave substantive , administrative matters in hands of mother, simone ovide duvalier, , committee led luckner cambronne, father s interior minister, while attended ceremonial functions , lived playboy.
political , economic factors
duvalier invested near-absolute power constitution. took steps reform regime, releasing political prisoners , easing press censorship. however, there no substantive changes regime s basic character. opposition not tolerated, , legislature remained rubber stamp.
much of duvaliers wealth came régie du tabac (tobacco administration). duvalier used non-fiscal account , established decades earlier, tobacco monopoly, later expanded include proceeds other government enterprises , used slush fund no balance sheets ever kept.
by neglecting role in government, duvalier squandered considerable domestic , foreign goodwill , facilitated dominance of haitian affairs clique of hardline duvalierist cronies, so-called dinosaurs . foreign officials , observers seemed tolerant toward baby doc in areas such human rights monitoring , foreign countries more generous him economic assistance. nixon administration restored united states aid program haiti in 1971.
marriage
on 27 may 1980, duvalier married michèle bennett pasquet in wedding cost us$ 2 million. extravagance of couple s wedding did not lack local critics, though christian science monitor reported event ... enthusiastically received majority of haitians . discontent among business community , elite intensified in response increased corruption among duvaliers , bennett family s dealings, included selling haitian cadavers foreign medical schools , trafficking in narcotics. increased political repression added volatility of situation.
the marriage estranged old-line duvalierists in government younger technocrats whom duvalier had appointed, including jean-marie chanoine, frantz merceron, frantz-robert estime , theo achille. duvalierists spiritual leader, duvalier s mother, simone ovide duvalier, expelled haiti, reportedly @ request of michèle duvalier. wife duvalier had 2 children, françois nicolas , anya.
over time, michèle grew become power in own right. example, dressed down ministers @ cabinet meetings while husband dozed.
destabilisation
in response outbreak of african swine fever virus on island in 1978, u.s. agricultural authorities insisted upon total eradication of haiti s pig population. program eradication of porcine swine fever , development of pig raising (peppadep) caused widespread hardship among peasant population, bred pigs investment.
in addition, reports hiv/aids becoming major problem in haiti caused tourism decline dramatically in 1980s. mid-1980s, haitians expressed hopelessness , helplessness, economic conditions worsened , hunger , malnutrition spread.
widespread discontent began in march 1983, when pope john paul ii visited haiti. pontiff declared “things must change in haiti”, , called on “all have power, riches , culture can understand serious , urgent responsibility brothers , sisters”. called more equitable distribution of income, more egalitarian social structure, , increased popular participation in public life. message revitalized both laymen , clergy, contributed increased popular mobilization , expanded political , social activism.
a revolt began in provinces in 1985. city of gonaïves first have street demonstrations , raids on food-distribution warehouses. october 1985 january 1986, protests spread 6 other cities, including cap-haïtien. end of month, haitians in south had revolted. significant rioting there broke out in les cayes.
duvalier responded 10 percent cut in staple food prices, closing of independent radio stations, cabinet reshuffle, , crackdown police , army units, these moves failed dampen momentum of popular uprising against dynastic dictatorship. duvalier s wife , advisers, intent on maintaining grip on power, urged him put down rebellion , remain in office.
departure
jean-claude , michèle duvalier en route airport flee country, 7 february 1986
in january 1986, reagan administration began pressure duvalier renounce rule , leave haiti. representatives appointed jamaican prime minister edward seaga served intermediaries carried out negotiations. @ point number of duvalierists , business leaders met duvaliers , pressed departure. united states rejected request provide asylum duvalier, offered assist departure. on 30 january 1986, duvalier had accepted, , president reagan announced departure based on report haitian cia station chief saw duvalier s car head airport. en route, there gunfire , duvalier s party returned palace unnoticed u.s. intelligence team. duvalier declared firm monkey tail. departed on 7 february 1986, flying france in u.s. air force aircraft.
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