The Struggling People's Organization (, ) is a political party in Haiti. It originated within the broader Lavalas political movement and was founded in November 1994 as the Lavalas Political Organization (French: Organisation Politique Lavalas, OPL), adopting its current name in 1996 following a split within the movement.
In October 1996, supporters of former president Jean-Bertrand Aristide split from the party to form Fanmi Lavalas. During the mid-1990s, the OPL emerged as one of Haiti's principal political parties and held a majority in Parliament, supporting the government of Prime Minister Rosny Smarth between 1996 and 1997. During this period, the party supported economic reforms that included privatization initiatives and fiscal austerity measures. These policies were intended to address Haiti's economic difficulties and meet the requirements of international financial institutions, but they also generated political controversy and opposition.
After the 1997 parliamentary election, the OPL contested the results and alleged electoral irregularities and fraud. The party became one of the principal opponents of Fanmi Lavalas during the late 1990s and early 2000s. Critics and supporters of Aristide have accused the OPL of receiving support from foreign governmental agencies and participating in efforts to undermine Aristide's government between 2001 and 2004, although such claims remain disputed.
In the 2006 Haitian general election, OPL presidential candidate Paul Denis received 2.62% of the vote. In the Senate elections held the same year, the party won 6.0% of the popular vote and secured three of the thirty-one seats. In the elections to the Chamber of Deputies, it won ten of the chamber's 102 seats. Following the election, the OPL joined the governing coalition led by Prime Minister Jacques-Édouard Alexis from 2006 to 2008.
Electoral performance Presidential ElectionCandidateFirst roundSecond roundVotes%PositionResultVotes%PositionResult 2006 Paul Denis 50,751 2.62% 7th 2010–11 No presidential candidate 2015 Sauveur Pierre Étienne 30,144 1.94% 7th 2016 No presidential candidate 2026 Edgard Leblanc Fils TBD TBD TBD
Parliamentary Senate Election Leader Votes % Seats +/– Position Government 2006 Paul Denis 243,047 5.99% New 5th (2006–2008) (2008–2011) 2010–11 Unknown Unknown 2 6th 2015–16 Andris Riché Unknown Unknown 3rd 2016–17 84,437 3.95% 1 7th
Chamber of Deputies Election Leader Votes % Seats +/– Position Government 2006 Paul Denis 142,318 8.02% New 3rd 2010–11 Unknown Unknown 7 6th 2015–16 Andris Riché Unknown Unknown 8 3rd
References
External links Party website