In 1987, Haiti held the first general election the country had seen since the rise of Francois Duvalier 30 years prior. This election was also the first election to be held since the adoption of the new Haitian constitution in 1986. Through the new constitution, the Conseil Electoral Provisoire (CEP) was established to create and enforce laws governing elections, as well as to ensure that all candidates met the necessary qualifications. Despite the optimism felt in the international community for Haiti’s successful democratic transition, the 1987 elections turned violent.