The elections under bayonets in 1957 pave the way for Duvalier
On September 22, 1957, Haiti held presidential and legislative elections marked by a strong military presence. General Antonio Thrasybule Kébreau led a Military Council that regulated the election campaign and ensured order on election day. François Duvalier, the favorite candidate of this junta, ultimately won the elections despite accusations of fraud.
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By NAGO News
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The election day was under strict surveillance: around 2,500 armed soldiers provided security. Each voter had to dip their little finger in indelible ink and have the nail cut to prevent multiple voting.
According to Associated Press, between one million and 1.3 million voters cast their ballots that day, with a strong turnout of women. The final results vary by source: Duvalier received between 679,884 and 680,509 votes against 249,956 for Louis Déjoie.
Duvalier had worked on his provincial implantation, claiming to be "rural in a nation where 90% of the population is rural." This strategy allowed him to nullify Déjoie's lead in Port-au-Prince. Clement Jumelle accused the electoral process of fraud.
The day after the vote, Associated Press noted that Haiti was eagerly awaiting the election results.
Reporting by Rezo Nòdwès
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