DUVALIERISTS & LAVALAS SUPPORTERS: THE TIME FOR RECONCILIATION TO SAVE HAITI

In 2008, the Organization for Unity and Integration (OUI) launched a historic call for national unity. On that day, we aimed to build reconciliation between two political forces that seemed entirely opposed: the Duvalierists and the Lavalas Supporters. The two former presidents, Jean-Claude Duvalier and Jean-Bertrand Aristide, had each sent official representatives, a sign that dialogue was possible and that the will existed. It was a moment of hope, but quickly, obscure forces shattered this initiative, and the opportunity to turn the page on divisions was lost. Yet, despite grudges, oppositions, and wounds, Duvalierists and Lavalas Supporters have always shared two fundamental pillars: the dignity and sovereignty of Haiti. It has even been said that Lavalas is the child of Duvalierism, because, beyond their differences, Lavalas inherited this asserted nationalism, this defense of the popular masses, and the conviction that Haiti must decide its own destiny. The Duvalierists embodied a strong state, protecting its borders and master of its choices. The Lavalas Supporters gave a voice to the most deprived and championed the idea that the Republic cannot ignore its poorest children. Fundamentally, both refused to let the nation kneel before foreign powers. Unfortunately, instead of uniting these forces, we allowed our egoism, our quarrels, and our grudges to destroy any possibility of rapprochement. We, Duvalierists and Lavalas Supporters, opened the door to unprecedented political disorder, where more than five hundred small groups proclaim themselves parties, often reduced to a husband, wife, and children. This fragmentation has killed the national vision and weakened our collective capacity to lead. We created the vacuum into which gangs, the corrupt, and foreign forces have rushed. Today, our country is on its knees, threatened by violence, misery, and a total loss of control. The situation is serious, but it is not too late. We must have the courage to build a national pact that brings together the legacies of Duvalierism and Lavalas. The unity of these two major currents can become the backbone of a new Haiti: a strong state, capable of imposing order, protecting its borders, and guaranteeing security, while remaining close to its people, by investing in education, health, and social justice. Haiti does not need five hundred parties to move forward. Two major political poles, carrying clear and complementary visions, surrounded by a few responsible formations, would suffice to offer the people real alternatives. Everything else is merely a dispersion of energies, a waste of resources, and a betrayal of the ideals we claim to defend. Those who claim to be heirs of Duvalier or Aristide must understand that true betrayal is not to dialogue with the former adversary, but to let the homeland die out of misplaced pride. The time is no longer for sterile divisions, but for strategic unity. If Duvalierists and Lavalas Supporters extend a hand to each other, dignity and sovereignty will once again become the beating heart of our Republic. Because ultimately, there is only one flag, one land, and one people: the Haitian people. And the disarray, disorder, and chaos we are experiencing, it is up to us and us alone to stop them.
Port-au-Prince, August 13, 2025 Joseph Georges DUPERVAL
General Coordinator
BATON JENÈS LA