National Unity Party (Haiti)

The National Unity Party (French: Parti de l'unité nationale, PUN) is a political party in Haiti. It was the de facto only political party in the country during the Duvalier dynasty (French: Dynastie des Duvalier), the autocratic family dictatorship of François "Papa Doc" Duvalier and his son Jean-Claude "Baby Doc" Duvalier, which lasted from 1957 to 1986.

National Unity Party

Parti de l'unité nationale
AbbreviationPUN
LeaderFrançois Duvalier (1957–1971)
Jean-Claude Duvalier (1971–1986)
FounderFrançois Duvalier
Founded1957 (1957)
HeadquartersPort-au-Prince, Ouest department
Paramilitary wingVolontaires de la Sécurité Nationale (1959–1986)
IdeologyBlack nationalism
Haitian nationalism
Right-wing populism
Totalitarianism
Anti-communism
Anti-Americanism (until 1971)
Political positionFar-right
Colors  Black

History

The PUN was founded in 1957 as a political platform to support the presidential candidacy of "Papa Doc" Duvalier in the 1957 general election.[1] In the aftermath of the July 1958 coup d'état attempt, the Tonton Macoute — officially named Volunteers of the National Security (French: Volontaires de la Sécurité Nationale, VSN) — was formed as the paramilitary wing of the PUN.[2] In 1963, other political parties in Haiti were outlawed, making the PUN the single political party of the nation. In 1964, "Papa Doc" Duvalier was made President for life,[3] with absolute power and the right to name his successor.

When "Papa Doc" Duvalier died in 1971, his son "Baby Doc" Duvalier succeeded him as the President of the country and the leader of the party.[4][5] The party would remain in power until the fall and exile of "Baby Doc" Duvalier in 1986,[6] at the height of the Anti-Duvalier protest movement, after which the party would enter a low profile stage, including the change of its name to National Progressive Party (French: Parti progressiste national, PPN).[7][8]

After the return of "Baby Doc" Duvalier from exile in 2011,[9] the party began a process of reconstitution under its original name from 2014, and started opening departmental offices.[10] Suffering a setback with the death of "Baby Doc" Duvalier in 2014,[11] the party nominated Marc-Arthur Drouillard as its candidate in the 2015 presidential election.[12] Towards that time, the legal representative of the party was Philomène Exe.[13]

Electoral history

Presidential elections
Election Party candidate Votes % Result
1957 François Duvalier 680,509 72% Elected Y
1961 (referendum) 1,320,748 100% Elected Y
1964 (referendum) 2,800,000 100% Elected Y
1971 (referendum) Jean-Claude Duvalier 2,239,917 100% Elected Y
1985 (referendum) 2,375,011 99% Elected Y
2015 Marc-Arthur Drouillard 929 0,06% Lost N
2016 970 0,09% Lost N

Chamber of Deputies elections
Election Party leader Votes % Seats +/– Position
1957 François Duvalier
35 / 37
 35 1st
1961 100%
67 / 67
 32 1st
1964 Unknown
1967 Unknown
1973 Jean-Claude Duvalier 100%
58 / 58
 1st
1979
57 / 58
 1 1st
1984 100%
59 / 59
 2 1st

See also

References
  1. "Haïti–Elections: L'ex–dictateur Jean-Claude Duvalier inaugure un bureau de son parti à Jacmel" (in French). Collectif Haiti de France. 23 April 2014. Retrieved 2 November 2018.
  2. Papa Doc and the Tontons Macoutes, by Bernard Diederich & Alan Burton; Markus Wiener Publishers, Incorporated, 1969
  3. "DUVALIER NAMED TO POST FOR LIFE; Haiti Assembly Also Adopts a New Constitution". The New York Times. 22 June 1964. Retrieved 3 November 2018.
  4. "Duvalier, 64, Dies in Haiti; Son, 19, Is New President". The New York Times. 23 April 1971. Retrieved 3 November 2018.
  5. "At 19, President for Life Jean‐Claude Duvalier". The New York Times. 26 April 1971. Retrieved 3 November 2018.
  6. "DUVALIER FLEES HAITI TO END FAMILY'S 28 YEARS IN POWER: GENERAL LEADS NEW REGIME; 20 REPORTED DEAD". The New York Times. 8 February 1986. Retrieved 3 November 2018.
  7. "Les partis politiques dans la construction de la démocratie en Haïti" (PDF) (in French). Retrieved 2 November 2018.
  8. Tom Lansford (2016). Political Handbook of the World 2015. ISBN 9781483371559. Retrieved 2 November 2018.
  9. Kushner, Jacob (17 January 2011). "Haiti's 'Baby Doc' in surprise return from exile". Salon. Associated Press. Archived from the original on 27 May 2013. Retrieved 2 November 2018.
  10. "Haiti–Politics: The Duvalierist Party PUN, inaugurates its first departmental office". Haiti Libre. 24 April 2014. Retrieved 2 November 2018.
  11. "Jean-Claude Duvalier, former Haitian dictator, dies aged 63". The Guardian. 4 October 2014. Archived from the original on 8 December 2015. Retrieved 2 November 2018.
  12. "70 "Haïtiens" courent vers la Présidence" (in French). Signal FM. 22 May 2015. Retrieved 2 November 2018.
  13. "Liste des partis politiques" (PDF) (in French). Haiti Libre. 2016. Retrieved 2 November 2018.
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