Jacques-Édouard Alexis

Jacques-Édouard Alexis (; born 21 September 1947) is a Haitian politician. He served as the prime minister of Haiti from 1999 to 2001 and was prime minister for a second term from 2006 to 2008 when he was dismissed due to political fallout from food riots.

Early life and career Alexis was born in Gonaïves, Haiti on 21 September 1947. He is the great-great grandson of President Pierre Nord Alexis and Princess Marie-Louise-Amelie-Celestina Pierrot, a daughter of Prince Jean-Louis Pierrot. He attended school at Lycée Geffrard in Gonaïves (1959–1964) and later Lycée Toussaint Louverture in Port-au-Prince (1964–1966). His nomination was preliminarily ratified by the Senate on 17 December and by the Chamber of Deputies on 17 December despite an unfavorable report regarding his management of funds as Minister of Education. Completion of the ratification process requires ratification of the nominee's proposed cabinet and general policy; Alexis's final ratification was delayed by the insistence of opposition leaders that they receive cabinet posts. Opposition parties accused Préval of having staged a bloodless coup and considered Alexis an illegitimate prime minister. Alexis served as prime minister from 26 March 1999 to 7 February 2001.

Second term Préval was re-elected in February 2006, and he again nominated Alexis as prime minister on 17 May 2006, three days after taking office as president. The nomination was ratified almost unanimously by both houses of parliament, and Alexis and his government were sworn in on 9 June 2006. His second government consisted of a coalition of six parties, including Préval's Lespwa party, the Fusion of Haitian Social Democrats, the Struggling People's Organization, and Jean-Bertrand Aristide's Fanmi Lavalas party. His stated policy objectives included the restoration of security in the country and the provision of basic services to citizens.

Resignation Criticism of Alexis's economic policies led to a no-confidence vote in February 2008, which Alexis survived. Riots broke out in early April 2008 regarding high food prices, and Alexis announced an investment program designed to lower the cost of living. On 10 April, it was announced that 16 Senators (a majority, as there are 30 seats in Haiti's Senate) had signed a letter advising Alexis to resign within two days. The letter described Alexis's proposals to resolve the economic crisis as "too little, too late" and said that "it is obvious that the majority of the people don't believe any more in the capacity of your government to take courageous measures to ease the misery that the population is facing daily." The Senate then voted unanimously to dismiss Alexis on 12 April, with all of the 16 Senators present in favor. Préval said that he would consult with Parliament to choose a new prime minister, but he also said that Alexis had done his best and should not receive all the blame for the situation.

Personal life Alexis is married and has five children.