Haitian constitutional referendum, 1964
Encyclopedia
A constitutional referendum was held in Haiti
on 14 June 1964. The new constitution made President
François "Papa Doc" Duvalier
President for life
. It also changed the country's flag
from blue and red to black and red, with the black symbolising the country's ties to Africa.
The referendum was rigged, with all ballots already marked yes, and no limit on how many times each person could vote. A total of 2.8 million people voted for the proposal and only 3,234 against. The National Assembly
approved the vote on 21 June and Duvalier was sworn in the following day.
Haiti
Haiti , officially the Republic of Haiti , is a Caribbean country. It occupies the western, smaller portion of the island of Hispaniola, in the Greater Antillean archipelago, which it shares with the Dominican Republic. Ayiti was the indigenous Taíno or Amerindian name for the island...
on 14 June 1964. The new constitution made President
President of Haiti
The President of the Republic of Haiti is the head of state of Haiti. Executive power in Haiti is divided between the president and the government headed by the Prime Minister of Haiti...
François "Papa Doc" Duvalier
François Duvalier
François Duvalier was the President of Haiti from 1957 until his death in 1971. Duvalier first won acclaim in fighting diseases, earning him the nickname "Papa Doc" . He opposed a military coup d'état in 1950, and was elected President in 1957 on a populist and black nationalist platform...
President for life
President for Life
President for Life is a title assumed by some dictators to remove their term limit, in the hope that their authority, legitimacy, and term will never be disputed....
. It also changed the country's flag
Flag of Haiti
The flag of Haiti consists of two horizontal bars, blue over red, defaced by a white panel bearing the Haitian coat of arms.The coat of arms depicts a trophy of weapons ready to defend freedom and a royal palm for independence...
from blue and red to black and red, with the black symbolising the country's ties to Africa.
The referendum was rigged, with all ballots already marked yes, and no limit on how many times each person could vote. A total of 2.8 million people voted for the proposal and only 3,234 against. The National Assembly
National Assembly of Haïti
The Parliament of Haiti is the legislature of the Republic of Haiti. It sits at the Haitian capital, Port-au-Prince. The Parliament is bicameral, the upper house being the Senate of Haiti and the lower house being the Chamber of Deputies of Haiti....
approved the vote on 21 June and Duvalier was sworn in the following day.
Results
| Answer | Votes | % |
|---|---|---|
| Yes | 2,800,000 | 99.9% |
| No | 3,234 | 0.1% |