President of Haiti

President of the
Republic of Haiti

Coat of Arms of Haiti
Incumbent
Michel Martelly
since May 14, 2011
Residence National Palace
Inaugural holder Alexandre Pétion
Formation October 17, 1806 (1806-10-17)
Haiti

This article is part of the series:
Politics and government of
Haiti

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The President of the Republic of Haiti is the head of state of Haiti. Executive power in Haiti is divided between the president and the government headed by the Prime Minister of Haiti.[A133] The current President is Michel Martelly, who took office on May 14, 2011.[1]

Contents

Term and election

The qualifications for the presidency are specified by Chapter III Section A (Articles 134 and 135) of the 1987 Constitution of Haiti.

The President is elected to a five-year term by popular vote. The President is not to be elected twice in a row: he may serve a second term only after an interval of five years, and must not run for a third term.[A134]

To be elected President, a candidate must:[A135]

  1. be a native-born Haitian and never renounced that nationality;
  2. have reached the age of 35 by election day;
  3. enjoy civil and political rights and not have been sentenced to death, personal restraint, or penal servitude or the loss of civil rights for a crime of ordinary law;
  4. be the owner of a real property and have one's habitual residence in the country;
  5. reside in the country at least 5 years before election day;
  6. have been discharged of responsibilities if previously handling public funds.

Elections are held on the last Sunday in November in the fifth year of the current president's term. If no candidate receives a majority then a runoff election is held between those two candidates, who have not withdrawn before the runoff, who have the highest number of votes.[A134]

Each presidential term in office begins and ends on the first February 7 after presidential elections are held.[A134]

Duties and powers

The qualifications for the presidency are specified by Articles 136 to 147, part of Chapter III Section B of the 1987 Constitution of Haiti. The President has no powers except those accorded to him in the Constitution.[A150]

The Constitution mandates that the President see to: the respect for and enforcement of the Constitution and the stability of the institutions; regular operations of the public authorities; the continuity of the State;[A136] and the nation's independence and the integrity of its territory.[A138]

When there is a majority in Parliament, the President must choose a Prime Minister from the majority party; otherwise, he chooses one after consultation with the two houses of Parliament. In either case, the choice must then be ratified by Parliament. The President terminates the duties of the Prime Minister when the Government resigns.[A137]

The President declares war and negotiates and signs peace treaties with the approval of the National Assembly,[A140] and signs all international treaties, conventions and agreements, submitting them to the National Assembly for ratification.[A139] The President accredits ambassadors and special envoys to foreign powers; receives letters of accreditation from ambassadors of foreign powers; and issue exequaturs to recognize consuls.[A139-1]

Residence

The National Palace in the capital Port-au-Prince serves as the official residence of the President of Haiti.[A153] It was severely damaged in the 2010 Haiti earthquake.

List of presidents

Main article: List of heads of state of Haiti

Latest election

Main article: Haitian general election, 2010–2011
e • d Summary of the 28 November 2010 and 20 March 2011 Haitian presidential election results
Candidates Nominating parties First round Second round
Votes % Votes %
Michel Martelly Farmers' Response 234,617 21.84 716,986 67.57
Mirlande Manigat Rally of Progressive National Democrats 336,878 31.37 336,747 31.74
Jude Célestin Unity 241,462 22.48  
Jean-Henry Céant Renmen Ayiti 87,834 8.18
Jacques-Édouard Alexis Mobilization for the Progress of Haiti 32,932 3.07
Charles Henri Baker Respect 25,512 2.38
Jean Chavannes Jeune Christian Citizens' Alliance for the Reconstruction of Haiti 19,348 1.80
Yves Cristalin Lavni Organization 17,133 1.60
Leslie Voltaire Ansanm Nou Fò 16,199 1.51
Anne Marie Josette Bijou independent 10,782 1.00
Génard Joseph Solidarity 9,164 0.85
Wilson Jeudy Force 2010 6,076 0.57
Yvon Neptune Ayisyen Pou Ayiti 4,217 0.39
Jean Hector Anacacis Democratic Movement of the Haitian Youth 4,165 0.39
Léon Jeune Rally for Economic Liberation 3,738 0.35
Axan Delson Abellard National Rally for the Development of Haiti 3,110 0.29
Garaudy Laguerre Wozo Movement 2,802 0.26
Gérard Marie Necker Blot Platfom 16 Desanm 2,621 0.24
Eric Smarki Charles Party for Haitian National Evolution 2,597 0.24
no candidate 12,869 1.20 7,356 0.69
Total votes (turnout: 22.79%/22.52%) 1,074,056 100.00 1,061,089 100.00
Registered voters 4,712,693  
Source: Adam Carr's Election Archive, Provisional Electoral Council, Provisional Electoral Council

See also

References

^ [A___] citations are Article numbers of the 1987 Constitution of the Republic of Haiti. A government-issued but unofficial (and error-prone) English translation is available at http://www.unhcr.org/refworld/docid/3ae6b542c.html and http://pdba.georgetown.edu/Constitutions/Haiti/haiti1987.html and the French original is available at http://pdba.georgetown.edu/Constitutions/Haiti/haiti1987fr.html

  1. ^ "Singer "Sweet Micky" takes oath as Haiti's president". Reuters. May 14, 2011. http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/05/14/us-haiti-martelly-idUSTRE74D0ZL20110514. Retrieved May 14, 2011. 
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