1 January 1804 (from France)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 1 January (1804)
Constitution:
constitution approved March 1987, suspended June 1988, most articles
reinstated March 1989; October 1991, government claims to be observing
the Constitution
Legal system:
based on Roman civil law system; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state:
President Jean-Bertrand ARISTIDE (since 7 February 1991), ousted in a
coup in September 1991, but still recognized by international
community as Chief of State; election last held 16 December 1990 (next
to be held by December 1995); results - Rev. Jean-Bertrand ARISTIDE
67.5%, Marc BAZIN 14.2%, Louis DEJOIE 4.9%
head of government:
acting Prime Minister Robert MALVAL (since August 1993)
cabinet:
Cabinet; chosen by prime minister in consultation with the president
Legislative branch:
bicameral National Assembly (Assemblee Nationale)
Senate:
elections last held 18 January 1993, widely condemned as illegitimate
(next to be held December 1994); results - percent of vote NA; seats -
(27 total) FNCD 12, ANDP 8, PAIN 2, MRN 1, RDNP 1, PNT 1, independent
2
Chamber of Deputies:
elections last held 16 December 1990, with runoff held 20 January 1991
(next to be held by December 1994); results - percent of vote NA;
seats - (83 total) FNCD 27, ANDP 17, PDCH 7, PAIN 6, RDNP 6, MDN 5,
PNT 3, MKN 2, MODELH 2, MRN 1, independents 5, other 2
Judicial branch:
Court of Appeal (Cour de Cassation)
Political parties and leaders:
National Front for Change and Democracy (FNCD), including National
Congress of Democratic Movements (CONACOM), Victor BENOIT, and
National Cooperative Action Movement (MKN), Volvick Remy JOSEPH;
Movement for the Installation of Democracy in Haiti (MIDH), Marc
BAZIN; National Progressive Revolutionary Party (PANPRA), Serge
GILLES; National Patriotic Movement of November 28 (MNP-28), Dejean
BELIZAIRE; National Agricultural and Industrial Party (PAIN), Louis
DEJOIE; Movement for National Reconstruction (MRN), Rene THEODORE;
Haitian Christian Democratic Party (PDCH), Joseph DOUZE; Assembly of
Progressive National Democrats (RDNP), Leslie MANIGAT; National Party
of Labor (PNT), Thomas DESULME; Mobilization for National Development
(MDN), Hubert DE RONCERAY; Democratic Movement for the Liberation of
Haiti (MODELH), Francois LATORTUE; Haitian