François Duvalier died 50 years ago and his dictatorship is still felt in Haiti

Haiti is facing what some historians call “Duvalierism without Duvalier.”

Some regimes have even been called “neo-Duvaliers” for their alleged human rights violations.

“Duvalier has established a totalitarian regime in Haiti,” Haitian historian Georges Michel told Efe.

According to him, in order for a totalitarian regime to exist, there must be a doctrinal and ideological component launched by Duvalier.

“He was a great intellectual and used this ability to do evil,” said Michel.

DUVALIER, FIERCE DICTATOR

“It is the only totalitarian regime we have had in the history of Haiti. There have been dictatorships, but not totalitarian regimes,” said Michel, for whom “the practice of widespread robbery and corruption” is a persistent “legacy” of Duvalier until today.

This April 21 marks the 50th anniversary of the death in Port-au-Prince of the doctor and dictator Duvalier, nicknamed Pope Doc. He ruled Haiti from 1957 to 1964 as president and from 1964 until his death in 1971 as president for life.

Illegal detentions, corruption and political persecution were the hallmarks of his years in power, costing thousands of Haitians their lives and sending many more into exile.

Duvalier created a personal guard designed to sow terror among the population, the frightening “stupid macoutes” tasked with protecting the leader, persecuting, torturing and killing his opponents.

CHANGE OF CONSTITUTION

“Every president who arrives, prepares or amends the Constitution in order to extend his term,” Auguste D’Méza, a political commentator and university professor, told EFE, recalling that presidents who fulfill their mandate under the mandate of the Constitution are “rare. “

Numerous demonstrations have taken place in Haiti in recent months against the referendum scheduled for June next year, promoted by Moses to give the country a “more appropriate” constitution.

Throughout its history, Haiti has changed its Magna Carta 23 times. To stay in power, Duvalier amended the Constitution several times until he established that power is hereditary for life.

Thus, in early 1971, he introduced a constitutional amendment establishing the continuity of power, which allowed his 19-year-old son Jean-Claude Duvalier to take control of the Government on the death of his father in April of that year. .

Jean-Claude Duvalier retained his dictatorial legacy until a popular uprising forced him to leave the country in France on February 7, 1986.

MYSTICISM AS A TOOL OF POWER

One of the “strongest” elements inherited from the Duvalier dictatorship is the practice of voodoo ceremonies, Professor D’Méza recalls.

For him, Haitians continue to believe that “luas” (spirits) lead you to power and that you must use mysticism to stay in power.

“These practices are very present. Duvalier has managed to corrupt and integrate the Masons. So did Michel Martelly and now Jovenel Moise,” he said.

For the teacher, “the use of mysticism is something powerful,” which is why Pope Doc has led people to believe that he is an immaterial being.

Historian Michel agrees with this, stating that this is not exclusively about duality. “All Haitian heads of state use mysticism in politics,” he said.

When he was in power, Jean-Claude Duvalier said he wanted to see a new economy appear in the country.

The reason was that he was fighting a certain oligarchy, D’Meza recalls. “Speeches against the oligarchs. To create a black bourgeoisie, as an alternative bourgeoisie, this was Jean-Claude’s dream,” he said.

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