The French Parliament Examines the Process of Restituting the Double Debt to Haiti in a Resolution

The French National Assembly adopted, on Thursday, June 5, an unprecedented resolution calling for the study of a process to restitute the “double debt” imposed on Haiti in the 19th century. The text invites the State to recognize the historical injustice, to consider reparations, and to support common memorial initiatives.

On the occasion of the day reserved for the Democratic and Republican Left (GDR) group, deputies voted on a proposed resolution aimed at “studying the process of restituting the double debt,” inflicted on Haiti after its independence. The text was adopted by 53 votes to 9, with opposition coming mainly from the ranks of the National Rally (RN) and its ally, the UDR group.

This resolution, although non-binding, calls on the government to recognize the injustice suffered by Haiti, to measure its persistent consequences, and to consider a restorative justice approach. It notably proposes the creation of an independent commission and support for Franco-Haitian initiatives focused on memory and reparation.

For the record, the origin of this debt dates back to April 17, 1825, when King Charles X imposed on Haiti, newly independent since 1804, the payment of 150 million gold francs – a sum later reduced to 90 million in 1838 – in exchange for the recognition of its independence. Under military threat, the young Caribbean republic heavily indebted itself to French banks to honor this payment, causing a lasting economic burden. The repayment stretched until 1952.

Last April 17, President Emmanuel Macron had announced the launch of a memorial effort through the establishment of a Franco-Haitian commission to assess the impact of this indemnity. However, he refrained from explicitly mentioning the issue of financial reparations, which remains a sensitive topic in diplomatic circles.

The issue is not new. Already in 2003, former Haitian President Jean-Bertrand Aristide had estimated the amount of the “double debt” that France should restitute to Haiti at 21.7 billion dollars.

During the parliamentary debates, the Minister for La Francophonie, Thani Mohamed Soilihi, issued a prudent opinion, signaling the government's openness to the debate without fully committing to it.

Conversely, RN deputy Emeric Salmon sharply criticized the proposal, warning against “a dangerous precedent” that could, in his view, encourage other nations to demand reparations for historical injustices, thereby threatening, in his words, “global diplomatic and economic balance.”

This resolution marks an important step in recognizing historical wrongs against Haiti. It remains to be seen whether it will lead to concrete commitments from the French executive.

With La 1ere France Info