# Parliamentary Crisis (1997)

URL: https://allhistories.com/haiti/timeline/1997-parliamentary-crisis
Location: Port-au-Prince, Haiti
Themes: main-event

In 1996 the Lavalas movement split between the Organisation Politique Lavalas (OPL), which held a majority in parliament, and Aristide's new party Fanmi Lavalas. Prime Minister Rosny Smarth, from the OPL, pursued structural adjustment and privatisation of state enterprises demanded by international lenders, which Aristide's supporters opposed. Senate elections in April 1997, held with very low turnout, were widely regarded as manipulated in favour of Fanmi Lavalas, and the OPL refused to accept them. Smarth resigned on 9 June 1997, and for over a year parliament rejected or failed to confirm the president's nominees for prime minister, paralysing government and blocking international aid. In January 1999 President Préval announced that the terms of most legislators had expired and began to govern by decree; in March 1999 he installed Jacques-Édouard Alexis as prime minister without parliamentary approval. The crisis left Haiti without a functioning parliament until 2000, deepened the bitter divisions within the former Lavalas coalition and set the stage for the disputed elections of 2000. The period also saw the murder of opposition and Lavalas figures alike, adding to the climate of fear. At this point in the timeline (1997–1999), the President of Haiti (first term) was René Préval (7 February 1996 – 7 February 2001). Government: the Prime Minister of Haiti was Rosny Smarth (27 February 1996 – 20 October 1997).

## Why it matters
The deadlock paralysed government for nearly two years and poisoned relations between Haiti's political factions.

Ruler at the Time: [René Préval](https://allhistories.com/haiti/rulers/rene-preval-1)

Prime Minister of Haiti: Rosny Smarth (Lavalas Political Organization (OPL))

## Sources
- [Wikipedia — Rosny Smarth](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rosny_Smarth)
- [Encyclopaedia Britannica — Rosny Smarth](https://www.britannica.com/search?query=Rosny+Smarth)
- [US Office of the Historian](https://history.state.gov/)
- [Wikipedia — Democracy, Coups And Interventions (period overview)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Haiti)