President of Haiti facts for kids
The President of Haiti is the leader of the country of Haiti. This person is the head of state, which means they represent Haiti to the world. In Haiti, the power to run the country is shared between the president and the government, which is led by the Prime Minister of Haiti.
Right now, a group called the Transitional Presidential Council is acting as the president. They started this role on April 25, 2024, and are expected to continue until February 7, 2026.
Quick facts for kids President of the Republic of Haiti |
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| Head of state of the Republic of Haiti Executive branch of the Haitian Government |
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| Residence | National Palace |
| Seat | Port-au-Prince, Haiti |
| Term length | Five years
renewable once
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| Constituting instrument | Constitution of Haiti (2012) |
| Precursor | Emperor of Haiti |
| Formation | February 17, 1807 |
| First holder | Jean Jacques Dessalines |
| Succession | Line of succession |
| Deputy | Prime Minister |
| Salary | 250,000 Gourdes per month |
| Website | La Présidence |
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Contents
How a President is Chosen
The rules for becoming president are in Haiti's Constitution.
Presidential Term Length
A president is elected for a five-year term. They cannot be elected for two terms in a row. They can serve a second term, but only after waiting five years. A person cannot be president for a third term.
Who Can Be President?
To become president, a person must meet several requirements:
- They must be born in Haiti and never have given up their Haitian citizenship.
- They must be at least 35 years old on election day.
- They must have full civil and political rights. This means they haven't been found guilty of serious crimes that would take away these rights.
- They must own property and live in Haiti.
- They must have lived in Haiti for at least five years before the election.
- If they managed public money before, they must show they handled it properly.
The Election Process
Elections for president are usually held in November of the fifth year of a president's term. However, the exact date can sometimes change.
If no candidate gets more than half of the votes, a second election, called a runoff election, is held. This runoff is between the top two candidates from the first election. The person who gets the most votes in the runoff becomes president.
A president's term is supposed to start and end on February 7, right after the election. But sometimes, this date has changed. For example, Michel Martelly became president on May 11, 2011, instead of February 7.
Since 1950, all Haitian citizens can vote for the president. Before that, civilian presidents were chosen by a group of lawmakers called the Chamber of Deputies.
What the President Does
The president's jobs and powers are also listed in the Constitution. The president can only do what the Constitution allows.
Main Responsibilities
The Constitution says the president must make sure of these things:
- The Constitution is respected and followed, and government groups work well.
- Public services operate smoothly.
- The country continues to function properly.
- Haiti remains independent and its land is protected.
Working with the Government
The president chooses the Prime Minister of Haiti. If one political party has the most power in Parliament, the president must choose the prime minister from that party. If not, the president talks with both parts of Parliament before choosing. The Parliament must then approve the president's choice. The president also ends the prime minister's job if the government decides to step down.
International Relations
The president has a big role in how Haiti deals with other countries:
- They can declare war and sign peace treaties, but only with the approval of the National Assembly of Haiti.
- They sign all international agreements and treaties, which then need to be approved by the National Assembly.
- They send ambassadors and special representatives to other countries.
- They welcome ambassadors from other countries to Haiti.
- They give official permission for foreign consuls to work in Haiti.
Appointments and Military Role
With the approval of the Senate, the president appoints the top leaders of Haiti's military and Haitian police forces. They also appoint Haiti's ambassadors and consuls to other countries. The president is also the commander-in-chief of the military.
With the approval of the Council of Ministers, the president appoints leaders for different government departments and regions.
Laws and Justice
The president approves laws, and they have the power to decide whether to approve a law or not.
The president can also reduce or change sentences for people who have been found guilty of crimes, except for certain cases decided by the Supreme Court. However, the president cannot grant a full pardon to prisoners who committed non-political crimes.
Where the President Lives
The National Palace in Port-au-Prince, the capital city, used to be the official home of the president. However, it was badly damaged in the 2010 Haiti earthquake and was later taken down in 2012.
After that, President Jovenel Moïse used his own home as a temporary palace. Later, he moved to another home in the Juventas area.
Who Takes Over if the President Can't Serve?
If the president cannot continue their job, the 1987 Constitution explains who takes over. Originally, it was the president of the Supreme Court of Haiti, then the vice-president of the court, and then other judges based on their experience. An election for a new president had to happen within three months, and the person acting as president could not run for the job.
However, this rule was changed in 2011–2012. Now, judges are no longer in the line of succession. Instead, the Council of Ministers, led by the prime minister, takes over if the presidency becomes empty.
See also
