# René Préval

> Ex-President of Haiti (1943-2017)

**Wikidata**: [Q208834](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q208834)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/René_Préval)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/rene-preval

## Summary
René Garcia Préval was a Haitian politician who served as President of Haiti, the highest office in the Caribbean nation. Born on January 17, 1943, and deceased on March 3, 2017, Préval is recognized for leading Haiti during pivotal moments in its modern history.

## Biography
- Born: January 17, 1943
- Died: March 3, 2017
- Nationality: Haiti
- Education: Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech (faculty of the University of Liège, Belgium)
- Known for: Serving as President of Haiti
- Field(s): Politics and Government
- Full Name: René Garcia Préval

## Contributions
René Préval served as President of Haiti, leading the Caribbean republic through critical periods in its modern history. His governance contributed to the political continuity of Haiti, a sovereign state and republic with its executive body known as the Government of Haiti and its legislative body as the Parliament of Haiti. Préval's leadership represented part of Haiti's ongoing governance since its establishment on January 1, 1804.

## FAQs

**What was René Préval's full name?**
René Garcia Préval was his complete name.

**When did René Préval live?**
René Préval was born on January 17, 1943, and died on March 3, 2017.

**Where did René Préval study?**
Préval was educated at Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech, a faculty of the University of Liège located in Gembloux, Belgium, which specializes in agronomic sciences and bio-engineering.

**What award did René Préval receive?**
Préval was a recipient of the Order of José Martí.

**What was René Préval's profession?**
René Préval was a politician who served as the President of Haiti.

## Why They Matter
René Préval holds importance in Haitian and Caribbean political history as a head of state who governed during pivotal moments. As President of Haiti—a sovereign nation situated in the Caribbean Sea on the island of Hispaniola—he led a country with approximately 10.98 million people (as of 2017). Haiti operates as a republic with French and Haitian Creole as its official languages and Port-au-Prince as its capital.

Préval's leadership contributed to the governance of a nation that is a member of numerous international organizations, including the United Nations (since 1945), the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), the Organisation internationale de la Francophonie, and the World Trade Organization. His presidency represented continuity in Haiti's governmental structure, which has seen numerous leadership transitions throughout its history.

## Notable For
- Serving as President of Haiti
- Receiving the Order of José Martí award
- Educated at Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech in Belgium
- Haitian citizenship and political leadership
- International diplomacy representing Haiti

## Body

### Early Life and Education
René Garcia Préval was born on January 17, 1943. He pursued higher education at Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech (GxABT), a faculty and research institute of the University of Liège located in Gembloux, Belgium. This institution, established in 1860, is dedicated to agronomic sciences and bio-engineering education and is a member of the Conférence des Grandes Écoles.

### Political Career
René Préval built his career in politics, eventually rising to serve as President of Haiti. As a politician, he held the highest office in a nation that operates as a republic with its capital in Port-au-Prince. Haiti, which shares the island of Hispaniola with the Dominican Republic, occupies 27,750 square kilometers in the Caribbean Sea and is part of the North American continent and Latin America region.

### Presidency
During his tenure as President of Haiti, Préval served as head of state for the Caribbean nation. His presidency was part of Haiti's long line of leadership since gaining independence on January 1, 1804. The country's governmental structure includes the Government of Haiti as the executive body and the Parliament of Haiti as the legislative body, with the Bank of the Republic of Haiti serving as the central bank.

### International Context
As President, Préval represented Haiti internationally during a period when the nation maintained diplomatic relations with countries including the United States, France, Canada, Brazil, Taiwan, and the Dominican Republic. Haiti, a member of the United Nations since October 24, 1945, participates in various international organizations, including the Organisation of American States, the International Monetary Fund, UNESCO, WHO, and Interpol.

### Recognition
René Préval was awarded the Order of José Martí, an honor established on December 2, 1972.

### Death and Legacy
René Préval passed away on March 3, 2017, at the age of 74. His legacy includes his contributions to Haitian governance during critical periods in the nation's history. Préval's educational background at Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech also reflects the international educational connections of Haitian leaders, having studied at an institution that has operated continuously since 1860 and evolved through several name changes before becoming part of the University of Liège in 2009.

## References

1. Virtual International Authority File
2. Find a Grave
3. Encyclopædia Britannica Online
4. Brockhaus Enzyklopädie
5. Roglo
6. Munzinger Personen
7. [René Préval, ancien président d'Haïti, est mort](http://www.liberation.fr/planete/2017/03/03/rene-preval-ancien-president-d-haiti-est-mort_1553212)
8. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013