Aristide wins Haiti’s first free election
Jean-Bertrand Aristide a radical Roman Catholic priest and opponent of the dictatorship of Jean-Claude Duvalier is elected president of Haiti in a landslide victory.It was the first free election in Haitis history.However less than one year later in September 1991 Aristide was deposed in a bloody military coup.
He escaped to exile and a three-man junta took power.In 1994 reacting to evidence of atrocities committed by Haitis military dictators the United Nations authorized the use of force to restore Aristide.On September 18 the eve of the American invasion a diplomatic delegation led by former U.S.President Jimmy Carter brokered a last-minute agreement with Haitis military to give up power.
Bloodshed was prevented and on September 19 1994 20000 U.S.troops landed unopposed to oversee Haitis transition to democracy.In October Aristide returned and served as president until the expiration of his term in 1996.
He was succeeded by his close friend and handpicked successor Rene Preval who was elected president in a landslide victory the previous year.In 2000 Aristide was again elected Haitian president in an election marked by violence and corruption.
