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René Garcia Préval (January 17, 1943 – March 3, 2017) was a Haitian politician and agronomist who served as Prime Minister of Haiti in 1991 under President Jean-Bertrand Aristide. Born in Port-au-Prince, Préval studied agronomy in Belgium and geothermal sciences in Italy before returning to Haiti to work in mineral resources.
Préval's political career began when he became acquainted with Aristide, a charismatic priest advocating for Haiti's poor. After Aristide's election in 1990, Préval was appointed Prime Minister in February 1991. His tenure was marked by efforts to address Haiti's economic challenges and human rights abuses. However, a military coup in October 1991 forced both Préval and Aristide into exile.
Préval later served two terms as President of Haiti, becoming the first elected head of state to complete a full term and peacefully transfer power. His leadership was characterized by agrarian reform and attempts at economic stabilization.
