Jan. 1: Haiti's President Rene Preval sits with his wife, fist lady Elisabeth Debrosse Delatour. (AP)
Haitian President Rene Perval
Born: Jan. 17, 1943, in Port-au-Prince.
Family: Married, with two daughters.
Education: Studied agronomy in Belgium at Gembloux and Louvain universities and geothermal science at the University of Pisa, Italy.
As Prime Minister: Appointed Feb. 13, 1991, by President Jean-Bertrande Aristide but was forced into exile after September coup.
Return From Exile: Became general director of the Social Investment Fund in 1994.
First Term as President: Served from 1996 to 2001, described as champion of the poor.
Current Term: Sworn in as the 55th president of Haiti on May 14, 2006.
Sources: St. Petersburg Times and the BBC
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