Mirlande Manigat | |
---|---|
First Lady of Haiti | |
In office February 7, 1988 – June 20, 1988 |
|
President | Leslie Manigat |
Preceded by | Henri Namphy |
Succeeded by | Henri Namphy |
Personal details | |
Born |
Miragoâne, Haiti |
November 3, 1940
Political party | Rally of Progressive National Democrats |
Spouse(s) | Leslie Manigat |
Mirlande Manigat (born Mirlande Hyppolite in Miragoâne, on November 3, 1940) is a Haitian politician and candidate in the 2010 presidential election. She is the widow of former president Leslie Manigat.
Mirlande Manigat was the presidential candidate for the Rally of Progressive National Democrats (RDNP) centre-right party. On October 18, 2010, Dr. Manigat also received the endorsement of the Collectif pour le Renouveau Haïtien (COREH).
Her platform for the presidency includes a focus on education of the youth of Haiti, and lifting the long-standing and restrictive constitutional conditions on dual nationality. She specifically promotes opening government positions for members of the Haitian diaspora. Manigat also aims for a more independent Haitian state, one less reliant upon and subject to foreign governments and NGOs.
Like 2010 presidential candidate Michel Martelly, Manigat initially called for November 28, 2010 presidential votes to be canceled given the widespread allegations of fraud in the first round, but backtracked after reports surfaced that she had polled well.