The World - News from March 12, 1987

Haiti’s constituent assembly has unanimously approved a draft charter weakening the presidency, which enjoyed virtually unlimited powers during the 29-year Duvalier regime, and giving official status to the Creole language. The new charter provides for a bicameral legislature, divides executive power between the president and a prime minister and separates the police and the army. It limits the president, to be elected by universal suffrage, to a single five-year term. The prime minister would be chosen from the majority party.