1987 Haitian general election


The 1987 Haitian general election took place on 29 November 1987, with a second round planned on 29 December. In these elections voters would have to elect the President, 77 deputies and 27 senators.

Candidates

Among the candidates for President were:
Two candidates were assassinated before the election: Louis Eugene Athis on 3 August, and Yves Volel on 13 October. On 2 November 1987, the National Electoral Council barred 12 presidential candidates because their support to the late Duvalier regime. Among the rejected candidates were Clovis Desinor, Lieut. General Claude Raymond, General Jean Baptiste Hilaire, Herve Boyer, Edouard Francisque and other army officers and Cabinet ministers. Other rejected candidates were Clemard Joseph Charles, Alphons Lahens, Hillaire Jean-Baptiste, Jean Julme, Edouard Francisque, Jean Theagene, Arthur Bonhomme, Herve Boyer and Franck Romain.

Electoral roll

At 8 November 1987, the date voter registration closed, the Provisional Electoral Council, with the assistance of 30,000 volunteers, had managed to register 2,246,000 voters, estimated at 73% of the electorate.

Aftermath

The election was canceled only three hours after polls opened, because troops led by Service d'Intelligence National member Lt. Col. Jean-Claude Paul massacred 30 - 300 voters on election day. Jimmy Carter later wrote that
"Citizens who lined up to vote were mowed down by fusillades of terrorists' bullets. Military leaders, who had either orchestrated or condoned the murders, moved in to cancel the election and retain control of the Government."

That same day, several media outlets were attacked: Radio Haiti-Inter suffered a grenade attack on its facade and Radio Antilles International was attacked with gunfire. A group of 16 men in army uniforms destroyed the transmitter of Radio Soleil.
The election was followed several months later by the 1988 Haitian general election, which was boycotted by almost all the previous candidates, and saw turnout of just 4%.