François Duvalier died 50 years ago, and his dictatorship still lingers over Haiti

The political use of mysticism, the modification of the Constitution and corruption from power are some of the legacies of former Haitian dictator François Duvalier (1907-1971) that still persist in this Caribbean country 50 years after his death, according to several specialists.

Haiti is experiencing what some historians call 'Duvalierism without Duvalier'. Some regimes have even been called 'neo-Duvalierist' for their alleged human rights violations. "Duvalier established a totalitarian regime in Haiti," Haitian historian Georges Michel told Efe. According to him, for there to be a totalitarian regime, there must be a doctrinal and ideological component, which was put in place by Duvalier. "He was a great intellectual and he used that capacity to do evil," Michel said.

"He is the only totalitarian regime we have had in Haiti's history. There have been dictatorships, but not totalitarian regimes," reiterated Michel, for whom Duvalier's "practice of theft and corruption on a grand scale" is a "legacy" that persists to this day.

April 21 marked the 50th anniversary of the death in Port-au-Prince of the doctor and dictator Duvalier, nicknamed Papa Doc. He ruled Haiti from 1957 to 1964 as president, and from that year until his death in 1971 as president for life.

Illegal arrests, corruption and political persecution were the hallmarks of his years in power, costing the lives of thousands of Haitians and sending many more into exile.

Duvalier created a personal guard to spread terror among the population, the dreaded "tonton macoutes", charged with protecting the ruler, persecuting, torturing and murdering his opponents.

"Every president who arrives in power draws up or modifies the constitution in order to extend his mandate," Auguste D'Méza, a political commentator and university professor, told Efe, pointing out that presidents who serve out their term of office as mandated by the constitution are "rare".

In recent months there have been numerous demonstrations in Haiti against the referendum planned for next June promoted by Moise to provide the country with a "more adequate" Constitution.

Throughout its history, Haiti has amended its constitution 23 times. In order to stay in power, Duvalier modified the Constitution several times until he established that power was hereditary and for life.

In early 1971, he introduced a constitutional amendment establishing continuity of power, which allowed his 19-year-old son Jean-Claude Duvalier to take control of the government upon his father's death in April of that year.

Jean-Claude Duvalier maintained the dictatorial legacy until a popular uprising forced him to leave the country for France on 7 February 1986.

One of the "most powerful" elements inherited from the Duvalier dictatorship is the practice of voodoo ceremonies, recalls Professor D'Méza.

For him, Haitians still believe that it is the "luases" (spirits) that lead you to power and that you have to use mysticism to stay in power. "These practices are very much alive. Duvalier managed to corrupt and integrate the Freemasons. So did Michel Martelly and now Jovenel Moise", he said.

For the professor, "the use of mysticism is something strong", which is why Papa Doc made people believe that he was an immaterial being.

Historian Michel agrees, stating that this is not exclusive to the Duvaliers. "All Haitian heads of state use mysticism in politics," he said.

When he was in power, Jean-Claude Duvalier said he wanted to see a new economic class emerge in the country.

The reason was that he was fighting against a certain oligarchy, D'Meza recalls. "Speeches against the oligarchs. To create a black bourgeoisie, like an alternative bourgeoisie, that was Jean-Claude's dream," he said.