The history of Haiti under President René Préval (Dec.1995–Dec.2000)

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Profile of René Préval—Candidate of the Lavalas Political Platform
Agence Haïtienne de Presse, Haïti en Marche, 15 November 1995. Mr. René Préval, 52, who registered his candidacy for the Haitian presidency on November 15 is close to President Aristide and was the Prime Minister from February 1991 until the military coup d'état.
Low Turnout In Haitian Elections
By Seth Galinksy, The Militant, 8 January 1996. With little enthusiasm, Haitians voted for a new president December 17. Less than 25 percent of Haiti's 3.7 million voters turned out for the contest.
Commission buries truth in secret report
This Week in Haiti, Haiti Progrès, 14–20 February 1996. When Haiti's National Commission for Truth and Justice (CNVJ) was formed under a veil of secrecy in December 1994, this column asked: will this be a ‘Truth Commission’ to unearth the truth, or to bury it?
Conflicts over Land in the Artibonite
From a report from Peace Brigades International, Haiti, July 1996. A large department north of the capital, the Artibonite valley suffers some particularly intractable land conflicts. The land there is extremely rich, well-irrigated, and thus quite valuable. The population of the region is steadily increasing. Haiti does not have strong social regulatory structures like those known in Africa.
Haiti's new president hurries to help a nation bogging down
By Douglas Farah, The Washington Post, 11 August 1996. Preval knows he has to start solving the daily problems of people's lives. ... His back is to the wall. Preval has focused on accomplishing what he can without outside help and on making the politically unpopular choices that Aristide often avoided.
Members of the New Provisional Electoral Council Chosen
AHP, 6 November 1996. The Haitian Executive published the official list of the new nine-member Provisional Elector Council. Parliament, the Executive and the Supreme Court chose three people each. An Octob er 15th a decree accepted the resignation of the former councils. Five political organizations criticized the government October 28 for the process of choosing the members and asked that the selection be more inclusive.
Gridlock Over New Elections
By Ives Marie Chanel, IPS, 10 December 1997. The bitter infighting over the contested results of April by-elections has caused a major political gridlock in Haiti. Riding on the outcome is control of the new Electoral Council, which will oversee general elections in Haiti in 2001.
Jacmel: Government Neglect Pits Neighbors Against Each Other
Haiti Progres, November 4–10, 1998. A microcosm of the impact of IMF austerity.
Strong Words
Haiti Progres, December 9–15, 1998. President Rene Preval's sharp criticism of Haiti's super rich and narrow concentration of wealth. A new colonialism by foreign powers, and the positive model offered by Cuba.
President René Préval's Address to the Nation on February 2, 1999
2 February 1999. About the constitution and democracy.
The Pitfalls of a Compromise: Privatization Moving, Elections Not
Haiti Progres, March 19–25, 1999. Barely two months old and already the government of Prime Minister Jacques Edouard Alexis is in trouble over privatization.
Grassroots groups form new party
By Pat Chin, Workers World, 8 April 1999. On March 26–28 at the Fourth Congress of the National Popular Assembly (APN) delegates discuss the future direction of APN, a mass organization. The main question was whether APN should become a political party and so participate in upcoming elections.
The APN become the PPN with same goals
Haiti Progres, This Week in Haiti, 11–17 August 1999. In order to participate in the elections, the National Popular Assembly (APN) has changed its name to the National Popular Party (PPN), but it remains true to its democratic nationalist principles.