Haitian presidential election, 1957
Encyclopedia
General elections were held in Haiti
on 22 September 1957. Former Minister of Labour François Duvalier
won the presidential election running under the National Unity Party banner, defeating the wealthy mulatto Louis Déjoie, as well as independent moderate Clement Jumelle, who had dropped out on election day in a cloud of suspicions that the army was monitoring the election in favour of Duvalier. Former head of state Daniel Fignolé
, considered a champion of poor blacks, was considered ineligible as he had been forcibly exiled months before the election, allegedly kidnapped.
Supporters of Duvalier also won the Chamber of Deputies elections. Following the election, Déjoie went into exile in Cuba
along with his supporters, fearing repression from Duvalier supporters. Haiti was not to see a free or semi-free election until after the fall of Duvalier's son Jean-Claude Duvalier
in February 1986.
Haiti
Haiti , officially the Republic of Haiti , is a Caribbean country. It occupies the western, smaller portion of the island of Hispaniola, in the Greater Antillean archipelago, which it shares with the Dominican Republic. Ayiti was the indigenous Taíno or Amerindian name for the island...
on 22 September 1957. Former Minister of Labour François Duvalier
François Duvalier
François Duvalier was the President of Haiti from 1957 until his death in 1971. Duvalier first won acclaim in fighting diseases, earning him the nickname "Papa Doc" . He opposed a military coup d'état in 1950, and was elected President in 1957 on a populist and black nationalist platform...
won the presidential election running under the National Unity Party banner, defeating the wealthy mulatto Louis Déjoie, as well as independent moderate Clement Jumelle, who had dropped out on election day in a cloud of suspicions that the army was monitoring the election in favour of Duvalier. Former head of state Daniel Fignolé
Daniel Fignolé
Daniel Fignolé was a Haitian politician who became Haiti's provisional head of state for three weeks in 1957. He was one of the most influential leaders in the pre-Duvalier era, a liberal labor organizer in Port-au-Prince so popular among urban workers that he could call upon them at a moment's...
, considered a champion of poor blacks, was considered ineligible as he had been forcibly exiled months before the election, allegedly kidnapped.
Supporters of Duvalier also won the Chamber of Deputies elections. Following the election, Déjoie went into exile in Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
along with his supporters, fearing repression from Duvalier supporters. Haiti was not to see a free or semi-free election until after the fall of Duvalier's son Jean-Claude Duvalier
Jean-Claude Duvalier
Jean-Claude Duvalier, nicknamed "Bébé Doc" or "Baby Doc" was the President of Haiti from 1971 until his overthrow by a popular uprising in 1986. He succeeded his father, François "Papa Doc" Duvalier, as the ruler of Haiti upon his father's death in 1971...
in February 1986.
President
Candidate | Party | Votes | % |
---|---|---|---|
François Duvalier François Duvalier François Duvalier was the President of Haiti from 1957 until his death in 1971. Duvalier first won acclaim in fighting diseases, earning him the nickname "Papa Doc" . He opposed a military coup d'état in 1950, and was elected President in 1957 on a populist and black nationalist platform... |
National Unity Party | 680,509 | 72.4 |
Louis Déjoie | National Agricultural Industrial Party | 249,656 | 26.6 |
Clement Jumelle | National Party | 9,980 | 1.1 |
Invalid/blank votes | |||
Total | 940,445 | 100 | |
Source: Nohlen |
Chamber of Deputies
Party | Votes | % | Seats |
---|---|---|---|
Duvalier supporters | 35 | ||
Déjoie supporters | 2 | ||
Invalid/blank votes | |||
Total | 37 | ||
Source: Nohlen |