Franck Lavaud (French pronunciation: [fʁɑ̃k lavo]; February 16, 1903 – February 27, 1988) was a Haitian general and politician who was an acting head of state during two terms: from January 11, 1946 until August 16, 1946 and from May 10, 1950 until December 6, 1950. Both times he led a military junta along with Paul Magloire and Antoine Levelt.[1]
Lavaud served as Commander of the Garde d'Haiti, the military of Haiti, starting in 1944. Haiti's President at the time was Élie Lescot, a member of the mulatto elite. Despite popular support early in his regime, repression and the exposure of ties with Dominican President Rafael Trujillo caused Lescot's reputation to fall. Crucially, Lescot had poor relations with the Garde, which was predominantly black.[2]
In late 1945, an anti-Lescot student newspaper called La Ruche published its first issue in Port-au-Prince. The newspaper eschewed race-based politics and equated Lescot with Mussolini. Because the students offered recitations in the vernacular language of Creole to Port-au-Prince's illiterate working population, it acquired widespread popularity. On January 4, Garde members detained Franck Magloire, publisher of Le Matin, who allowed La Ruche to be published on his presses. In reaction to his detention, students began to protest in the streets. In the following days, they were joined by workers and received declarations of support from a new opposition organization, the Front Démocratique Unifié (FDU), headed by Dr. Georges Rigaud.[3]
As the protests grew in intensity, Lescot met with opposition leaders and stated that he would dissolve the cabinet and step down on May 15, the fifth anniversary of his ascension to power. Despite that, the protests continued and Lescot privately asked Lavaud to use the Garde against the protesters. Lavaud refused to carry out the order and Lescot commanded his arrest.[4] Later that day, Lavaud, his lieutenant Antoine Levelt, and American ambassador Orme Wilson Jr. formed the Conseil Exécutif Militaire (CEM), an organization committed to forcing Lescot out. Lavaud was able to convince Lescot of the danger of remaining in Haiti. The CEM pressured Lescot into resigning and on January 11 Lescot fled the country.[5]
As leaders of the CEM, Lavaud, Levelt, and Paul Magloire came into control of the country. They promised to hold democratic elections, which occurred on May 12. The left wing fared poorly in the parliamentary elections in May and was powerless to prevent the Senate from electing the CEM's favored candidate, Dumarsais Estimé. After Estimé's election by the Senate, Lavaud stepped down and Estimé was inaugurated.[6]
Afterwards, Lavaud resumed his duties as head of the Garde. Estimé had a left-wing agenda as President and attempted to placate the army to cement his rule. Lavaud was promoted to brigadier general. In addition, Estimé oversaw the renaming of the Garde to the Haitian Army in March 1947. Between 1946 and 1950 the balance of power in the Haitian military shifted and when Estimé was deposed by the military in 1950, Lavaud was president but less powerful than fellow officer Magloire. Magloire ultimately was directly elected president in his own right in direct elections in October of that year.[7]
^"1941-1946 - Elie Lescot". Globalsecurity.org. Retrieved 27 December 2021.
^Smith, Matthew J. (2004). "Vive 1804!: The Haitian Revolution and the Revolutionary Generation of 1946". Caribbean Quarterly. 50 (4): 22–51. doi:10.1080/00086495.2004.11672248. JSTOR 40654477. S2CID 151106144. Retrieved 27 December 2021.
franck, lavaud, this, article, needs, additional, citations, verification, please, help, improve, this, article, adding, citations, reliable, sources, unsourced, material, challenged, removed, find, sources, news, newspapers, books, scholar, jstor, september, . This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Franck Lavaud news newspapers books scholar JSTOR September 2011 Learn how and when to remove this template message Franck Lavaud French pronunciation fʁɑ k lavo February 16 1903 February 27 1988 was a Haitian general and politician who was an acting head of state during two terms from January 11 1946 until August 16 1946 and from May 10 1950 until December 6 1950 Both times he led a military junta along with Paul Magloire and Antoine Levelt 1 Franck Lavaud30th President of HaitiIn office May 10 1950 December 6 1950Preceded byDumarsais EstimeSucceeded byPaul MagloireIn office January 11 1946 August 16 1946Preceded byElie LescotSucceeded byDumarsais EstimePersonal detailsBorn 1903 02 16 February 16 1903Jeremie HaitiDiedFebruary 27 1988 1988 02 27 aged 85 Paris FranceOccupationSoldier brigadier general Biography EditLavaud served as Commander of the Garde d Haiti the military of Haiti starting in 1944 Haiti s President at the time was Elie Lescot a member of the mulatto elite Despite popular support early in his regime repression and the exposure of ties with Dominican President Rafael Trujillo caused Lescot s reputation to fall Crucially Lescot had poor relations with the Garde which was predominantly black 2 In late 1945 an anti Lescot student newspaper called La Ruche published its first issue in Port au Prince The newspaper eschewed race based politics and equated Lescot with Mussolini Because the students offered recitations in the vernacular language of Creole to Port au Prince s illiterate working population it acquired widespread popularity On January 4 Garde members detained Franck Magloire publisher of Le Matin who allowed La Ruche to be published on his presses In reaction to his detention students began to protest in the streets In the following days they were joined by workers and received declarations of support from a new opposition organization the Front Democratique Unifie FDU headed by Dr Georges Rigaud 3 As the protests grew in intensity Lescot met with opposition leaders and stated that he would dissolve the cabinet and step down on May 15 the fifth anniversary of his ascension to power Despite that the protests continued and Lescot privately asked Lavaud to use the Garde against the protesters Lavaud refused to carry out the order and Lescot commanded his arrest 4 Later that day Lavaud his lieutenant Antoine Levelt and American ambassador Orme Wilson Jr formed the Conseil Executif Militaire CEM an organization committed to forcing Lescot out Lavaud was able to convince Lescot of the danger of remaining in Haiti The CEM pressured Lescot into resigning and on January 11 Lescot fled the country 5 As leaders of the CEM Lavaud Levelt and Paul Magloire came into control of the country They promised to hold democratic elections which occurred on May 12 The left wing fared poorly in the parliamentary elections in May and was powerless to prevent the Senate from electing the CEM s favored candidate Dumarsais Estime After Estime s election by the Senate Lavaud stepped down and Estime was inaugurated 6 Afterwards Lavaud resumed his duties as head of the Garde Estime had a left wing agenda as President and attempted to placate the army to cement his rule Lavaud was promoted to brigadier general In addition Estime oversaw the renaming of the Garde to the Haitian Army in March 1947 Between 1946 and 1950 the balance of power in the Haitian military shifted and when Estime was deposed by the military in 1950 Lavaud was president but less powerful than fellow officer Magloire Magloire ultimately was directly elected president in his own right in direct elections in October of that year 7 References Edit Countries H Rulers org Retrieved 2012 08 04 1941 1946 Elie Lescot Globalsecurity org Retrieved 27 December 2021 Smith Matthew J 2004 Vive 1804 The Haitian Revolution and the Revolutionary Generation of 1946 Caribbean Quarterly 50 4 22 51 doi 10 1080 00086495 2004 11672248 JSTOR 40654477 S2CID 151106144 Retrieved 27 December 2021 Smith 2004 p 29 Smith 2004 p 30 Smith 2004 p 37 Politics and the Military 1934 57 Traveling Haiti 13 January 2016 Retrieved 27 December 2021 Political officesPreceded byElie Lescot President of Haiti1946 Succeeded byDumarsais EstimePreceded byDumarsais Estime President of Haiti1950 Succeeded byPaul Magloire This article about a Haitian politician is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Franck Lavaud amp oldid 1153527083, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
