Jean-Claude Duvalier
From Freepedia
Jean-Claude Duvalier (nicknamed Bébé Doc or Baby Doc) (born July 3, 1951) succeeded his father, François "Papa Doc" Duvalier as the dictator of Haiti from his father's death in 1971 until his overthrow by a popular uprising in 1986. He married Michèle Bennet.
Contents |
Early life
He was born in Port-au-Prince, and in April 1971, he assumed the presidency of Haiti at the age of 19 upon the death of his father, François Duvalier (nicknamed "Papa Doc"), becoming the world's youngest president.
Tortuga freeport
In 1971, shortly before the death of "Papa Doc" Duvalier, Texas entrepreneur Don Pierson entered into a 99-year contract to develop a freeport on the island of Tortuga. Following the death of his father and upon learning of a new multimillion dollar contract between the Freeport and Gulf Oil Corporation, Jean-Claude Duvalier expropriated the entire venture in 1974, causing it to collapse.
Political and economic repression
He held on to power until February 7, 1986 when, in response to three months of protest against the government's political and economic repression, fearing prosecution he fled the country and settled in France, although never officially being granted asylum. Duvalier had also taken several millions in swindled funds. In France, he lived a luxurious life - having a villa in the hills of Cannes, two apartments in Paris, a chateau, along with a Ferrari. Duvalier, however, lost an enormous amount of funds due to a divorce from his wife, Michelle Duvalier.
Exile and announced return
Following the ouster of president Jean-Bertrand Aristide in February 2004, Duvalier announced his intention to return to Haiti. In 2004 he announced his intentions to run for president of Haiti in the upcoming 2005 elections for the Party of National Unity.
| Preceded by: François Duvalier | President of Haiti 1971-1986 | Succeeded by: Henri Namphy |
