Dominican Republic and Haiti: Country Studies

OPL. In June 1997, Smarth resigned. In December 1998,
deeply divided parliament confirmed Jacques Edouard Alexis
as prime minister. In January 1999, Preval initiated rule by
decree, dismissing parliament and appointing municipal
officials "interim executive agents" of Ministry of Interior. In
March, following successful negotiations between Preval and a
coalition of political organizations that did not include FL or
OPL, Prime Minister Alexis formed interim government and
Preval named a Provisional Electoral Council with mandate to
organize overdue parliamentary and municipal elections by
late 1999. Elections held in May 2000, with Aristide's Lavalas
Family party gaining victory. OAS Election Observation
Mission questioned validity of Senate elections, and United
States, Canada, and European Union threatened to withhold
aid if results not revised. As of August 2000, Haitian
government has refused to accept OAS recommendations.
Politics: Tentative progress toward pluralistic democratic
government after long history of rule by military leaders and
dictators. Tradition of political movements or upheavals and
strong presidency inhibit development of political parties and
of power sharing among executive, legislature, and judiciary.
Late 1980s Lavalas movement of Aristide promoted a
participatory and decentralized democracy as opposed to more
urban-centered, representative forms of democratic
governance. Movement splintered several times since gaining
power in 1990 elections. National political institutions and
organizations decimated during three years of de facto military
rule (1991-94). Political void following 1995 dismantling of
Haitian army filled by OPL. Emergence in 1997 of Aristide's FL
shattered OPL, creating bitter rivalry between country's two
dominant political groups. Other political parties small and
weak. Adherents of authoritarian rule abound, but lack stable
institutions and popular support. Church, business, and civil
society lack formal political institutions, but often have been
influential political actors. Charismatic leadership, currently in
person of Aristide, remains dominant political trait in Haiti.
International Relations: Focused mainly on United States,
country's leading trade partner and major source of foreign
aid, and on neighboring Dominican Republic. Haiti's
longstanding regional and international isolation diminished
following greater involvement by Caribbean Community and
Common Market (Caricom), OAS, and UN beginning with
1990 elections and increasing following international
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