HAITI ELECTIONS: SIMEUS VOWS FIGHT TO STAY IN RACE

C O N F I D E N T I A L PORT AU PRINCE 002618

SIPDIS

SOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD
WHA ALSO FOR USOAS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/07/2015
TAGS: PGOV PREL HA
SUBJECT: HAITI ELECTIONS: SIMEUS VOWS FIGHT TO STAY IN RACE


Classified By: Charge d'Affairs Timothy M. Carney for reasons 1.4(b) an
d (d)


1. (C) Summary. Presidential candidate Dumarsais Simeus met
with Charge d,Affairs Carney on October 18 to discuss his
campaign, the controversy regarding his dual nationality, and
the general status of elections preparations. Simeus judged
that the Supreme Court had settled the issue of dual
nationals' eligibility to run for office in Haiti by ruling
in his favor: he would fight "with his life" further efforts
to exclude him. The registration process had been successful
enough to legitimize the elections but the Provisional
Electoral Council (CEP) was incompetent and should be
"fired." Though the Charge stressed that the U.S. could not
take a position on Haitian legal matters, Simeus asked for
U.S. support in forcing the Prime Minister to accept the
Supreme Court's decision in to re-instate his candidacy.
End. Summary.


2. (C) In light of the Haitian Supreme Court's unanimous
ruling, Simeus declared he would fight any attempt to keep
his name off the ballot with all his available resources.
Simeus claimed that most Haitians did not care whether a
candidate is a dual national, and that he was steadily
gaining support among Haiti's masses. He warned that further
moves by the Interim Government of Haiti (IGOH) to prevent
his candidacy could derail the elections.


3. (C) The Charge congratulated Mr. Simeus on the decision of
the Supreme Court and wished him success in the campaign, but
stressed that the U.S. has no preferred candidate. He
further pointed out that the U.S. could not intervene in
Haitian constitutional dispute. Simeus bitterly denounced
the Prime Minister, accusing him of trying to preserve
Haiti's failed political culture rather than protecting the
constitution. Simeus continued that the PM and his
government were themselves "illegal" and only in power as a
result of the international intervention. Simeus asked that
the USG and the international community press the Prime
Minister to accept the Supreme Court's decision approving his
candidacy and to cease further actions to prevent him from
running. Polcouns reiterated Charge,s earlier point that
the USG could not take a position on internal Haitian legal
matters, but that we continued to urge the IGOH to focus on
ensuring that elections took place on time.


4. (C) The Charge asked Simeus whether Haiti could carry off
credible elections under current conditions. Simeus believed
that with over 3 million registered voters, election results
would be credible if the campaign ran smoothly otherwise.
(Note: the final tally of registered voters will likely
exceed 3.25 million. End Note.) He felt that the CEP had
failed repeatedly to meet its obligations and should be
"fired" and that the UN should immediately take over the
elections process. (Comment. Simeus also made this case at a
dinner with other presidential candidates held for visiting
S/CRS Director Pascual and WHA/PDAS Duddy. The other
candidates agreed that the CEP had failed, but all argued
that its role must be preserved. End Comment.) CEP members
were pursuing narrow personal and political interests, rather
than those of the whole country.


5. (C) Comment: Mr. Simeus called Polcouns the following
morning to repeat his request that the U.S. government
support the decision of the Haitian Supreme Court and said
that his campaign team would "circle back" in Washington to
push for this support. Polcouns repeated the message that
the U.S. would stay clear of Simeus, personal dispute, but
urge the IGOH to maintain its focus on successful elections.



CARNEY