Haiti: Government

Principal Government Officials

Chief of State: President Michel Martelly
Head of Government: Prime Minister Gary Conille

The 1987 constitution provides for an elected, bicameral legislature; an elected president who serves as head of state; and a prime minister, cabinet, ministers, and Supreme Court appointed by the president with the parliament's consent.

National presidential and legislative elections on November 28, 2010 were characterized by moderate voter turnout, significant disorganization, and notable irregularities. Rumors of widespread fraud by the ruling INITE party led to violent demonstrations on November 28 after 13 of the 18 presidential candidates called for the annulment of the elections before the polls closed. Violence culminated on December 7 with the Provisional Electoral Council’s (CEP) announcement of preliminary election results that pointed to a second-round presidential runoff between Mirlande Manigat and the then-ruling party candidate, Jude Celestin. These results were at variance with election day observations by domestic and international observers. At President Preval’s request, the OAS sent a technical team to Haiti on December 31 to review the preliminary first-round results of the presidential elections. The OAS determined that irregularities and fraud on election day significantly affected the outcome of the presidential race. On February 3, 2011 the CEP published first-round results in line with the recommendations put forth in the OAS report to promote Manigat and Michel Martelly to a second round, a first in Haiti’s history.

The second round of elections on March 20, 2011 proceeded fairly calmly, and took into consideration a number of lessons learned from the November 28 first round. Martelly won the presidential race, defeating Manigat by winning 67.5% of the vote. Martelly took office on May 14, 2011. Former President Preval’s party swept the legislative race, having won a majority in the Senate and a plurality in the Chamber of Deputies. On October 5 the Senate approved former UN official Gary Conille as Prime Minister, breaking a 5-month political impasse. The same day, President Martelly issued a decree naming Anel Alexis Joseph as President of Haiti’s Supreme Court. Haiti’s new prime minister and his cabinet took office on October 18.

In 2004, the UN Security Council established the UN Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH) to support stability efforts in the country. Following the 2010-2011 elections, MINUSTAH's aims have been to restore a secure and stable environment, promote the political process, strengthen Haiti's governmental institutions and rule-of-law-structures, and promote and protect human rights. For more on the international presence in Haiti, see the Foreign Relations section below.

FOREIGN RELATIONS
Haiti is one of the original members of the United Nations and several of its specialized and related agencies, as well as a member of the Organization of American States (OAS). It maintains diplomatic relations with several dozen countries.

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