OPL'S PAUL DENIS UNSYMPATHETIC TO SIMEUS CANDIDACY

C O N F I D E N T I A L PORT AU PRINCE 002609 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/18/2015 TAGS: PREL PGOV HA SUBJECT: OPL'S PAUL DENIS UNSYMPATHETIC TO SIMEUS CANDIDACY Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Timothy M. Carney for reasons 1.4 (B) and (D) ¶1. (C) On October 19, Charge called on Presidential Candidate Paul Denis, former Lavalas leader and current head of OPL (Struggling People's Organization) to discuss electoral strategy and the current political climate. Denis stated that he views the Commission on Nationality as a good thing, saying, "the Constitution must be respected." As for the IGOH's seemingly singleminded focus on Dumas Simeus, Denis said that he understands the CEP has a copy of his US passport and that he ought not be allowed to run under the Constitution. ¶2. (SBU) OPL will present 84 candidates for the House of Deputies and 22 candidates for the Senate. While some around him believe that OPL will win a simple majority, Denis said he is hopeful for a plurality of legislative seats. ¶3. (C) He stated that his primary concern with respect to the elections is financing, noting that his candidates were discouraged to see other candidates spending money he thought might be ill-gotten. Denis said that OPL, whose headquarters sits directly beside that of Serge Gilles' Fusion party, could seek political alliance with Fusion or the Komba party of Chavannes Jean Baptiste, but only in the runoff elections. In the first round, he said, it would be every man for himself. Denis acknowledged that no one is likely to win a simple majority in the legislature and that coalition building would be an essential step in order to prevent the new President from installing yet another powerless Prime Minister. CARNEY