Haiti Holds Free Elections
Haiti's journey toward democratic governance took a significant step on December 17, 1990, when the nation conducted its first free and fair presidential elections. The clergyman Jean-Bertrand Aristide emerged as the victor, marking a pivotal moment in Haiti's long struggle for political freedom amidst a backdrop of poverty and autocratic rule. Historically, Haiti has faced numerous challenges, including a legacy of exploitation stemming from its colonial past and a series of dictatorial regimes that stifled democratic aspirations. Despite the hope surrounding the elections, Aristide's presidency faced immediate destabilization due to a military coup, leading to his forced exile.
The return of Aristide to power in 1994, following international intervention, highlighted ongoing tensions within the nation's political landscape. This period of political upheaval was indicative of the broader issues affecting Haiti, where a majority of the population has descended from enslaved Africans and experiences deep socioeconomic disparities. The impact of past governance and the struggles for human rights and social justice continue to shape Haiti's identity. The events surrounding these elections and subsequent political struggles remain crucial to understanding Haiti's quest for stability and democracy.
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Haiti Holds Free Elections
Haiti Holds Free Elections
For the first time in its history, on December 17, 1990, the Caribbean island nation of Haiti conducted free and fair presidential elections, at which the clergyman Jean-Bertrand Aristide was chosen as the nation's new leader. Although it took several years for Aristide to secure his office due to a military coup, it was nevertheless a milestone in the country's painful effort to enter the world's community of free nations.
Haiti enjoys the dubious distinction of being the Western Hemisphere's poorest nation. It has approximately 7 million inhabitants, and its capital and largest city is Port-au-Prince with a population of roughly 1.5 million. More than 90 percent of Haiti's people are descended from African slaves, brought to the island in order to work on highly lucrative European plantations which once made Haiti a prized French colony.
A massive slave uprising secured Haiti's independence in the early 19th century, but a succession of self-appointed emperors and military dictators resulted in limited improvement in the lives of the masses. The upper classes, desperate to maintain their privileged lifestyle, generally supported autocratic rule through the 20th century. While most people lived in poverty so bad that the sale of donated human blood became a leading national export, the wealthy paid no taxes. International pressures for reform led to the departure of the dictator Jean-Claude Duvalier in 1986. Attempts were made to hold a democratic election for his successor, but massive interference by the military eventually led to the seizure of power by General Prosper Avril.
Further international criticism and growing domestic unrest forced Avril to leave office in March 1990. New elections were organized, this time under international supervision to insure that they were free and fair. The winner was Aristide, a Roman Catholic parish priest who was a longtime human-rights activist and populist. He received over two-thirds of the vote in the December 1990 elections, which resulted in his victory on December 17. However, he was deposed by General Raoul Cedras in September 1991 and forced to flee the country. After lengthy negotiations and the threat of military intervention by the United States, Cedras agreed to return Aristide to power and leave the country. In October 1994 American forces occupied the nation in a generally peaceful process which enabled Aristide to resume his presidency. The Aristide government crumbled in 2004 as yet another wave of civil strife swept Haiti. Elements of the U.S. Marine Corps were dispatched to safeguard certain American interests, such as the lives of diplomatic personnel. Whether a more significant military presence will be required remains uncertain as of the writing of this book.