Referendum in Haiti in 1971
During the referendum in Haiti in 1971 , the inhabitants of Haiti were to “decide” whether the dictator François Duvalier's son should succeed him as president after his death. The son Jean-Claude Duvalier was chosen as his successor without a dissenting vote. The referendum took place on January 30, 1971.
history
In mid-January 1971, the then 64-year-old dictator announced in a New Year's address, possibly because his health was compromised, that his son would succeed him in the office of president.
A few days before the referendum, the powerless National Assembly changed the constitutional article on the minimum age of the president so that the required age for the office of president was reduced from 40 to 20 years. At the same time, the Ministry of the Interior declared by decree that Jean-Claude Duvalier was not 19, but already 21. The residents had to confirm their consent to the succession on the ballot papers.
On the ballot papers, voters were asked the following question:
"Citizen Dr. François Duvalier… has chosen the citizen Jean-Claude Duvalier as his successor for the life of the Republic. Does this choice correspond to your ideas and wishes? Do you confirm this? "
Allegedly 2,391,916 citizens voted yes and none voted no.
After François Duvalier's death on April 21, 1971, Jean-Claude took office and ruled until his overthrow in 1986.
Remarks
- ↑ a b Personal details: JEAN CLAUDE DUVALIER, 19 . In: Der Spiegel . No. 6 , February 1, 1971, p. 142 ( spiegel.de [accessed October 1, 2018]).
- ↑ a b HAITI / SUCCESSION: Spirit of the Father . In: Der Spiegel . No. April 18 , 1971 ( spiegel.de [accessed September 30, 2018]).
- ↑ HAITI: Enter Mama Doc . In: Time . February 22, 1971, ISSN 0040-781X ( time.com [accessed October 1, 2018]).