Profile of René Préval—Candidate of the Lavalas Political Platform

Agence Haïtienne de Presse, Haïti en Marche, Vol.IX no.41, 15 November 1995

Thanks to John Kozyn for posting this biographical sketch. René Préval, first prime minister of Aristide's in 1991, is favored in the presidential election this Sunday.

Mr. René Préval, 52, who registered his candidacy for the Haitian presidency on Wednesday, November 15 is close to President Aristide and was the Prime Minister from February 1991 until the military coup d'état.

Mr. Préval was also Minister of Interior and Defense during the same period. He holds a degree in agronomy from the College of Jembloux in Belgium. He has long experience in both geothermics and engineering.

In 1963 René Préval was forced to leave the country with his family which had run afoul of the Duvalier dictatorship. Returning to the country in 1975 after 5 years in the United States, he worked at the National Institute for Mineral Resources from which he resigned after two years.

René Préval was active in many popular and voluntary agencies after the fall of Jean-Claude Duvalier in February 1986 including Lafanmi Selavi [the orphanage and educational facility begun by Father Jean-Bertrand Aristide] and the Fred Coriolan Committee. He also played a primary role in the Initiative Group of Civil Society for the respect of the constitution (Honor—Respect).

Until his declaration of candidacy, Mr. Préval—often cited as President Aristide's heir apparent—has been the director of the Economic and Social Assistance Funds.

The Lavalas coalition, close to President Aristide, holds a majority in both the Senate and the Chamber of Deputies.