Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05PORTAUPRINCE2915
2005-11-28 12:16:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Port Au Prince
Cable title:  

HAITI ELECTIONS DATES DECIDED

Tags:  PGOV PREL KDEM HA 
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This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
UNCLAS PORT AU PRINCE 002915 

SIPDIS

STATE FOR WHA/CAR
DRL
S/CRS
SOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD
STATE PASS AID FOR LAC/CAR
INR/IAA (BEN-YEHUDA)

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL KDEM HA
SUBJECT: HAITI ELECTIONS DATES DECIDED

UNCLAS PORT AU PRINCE 002915

SIPDIS

STATE FOR WHA/CAR
DRL
S/CRS
SOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD
STATE PASS AID FOR LAC/CAR
INR/IAA (BEN-YEHUDA)

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL KDEM HA
SUBJECT: HAITI ELECTIONS DATES DECIDED


1. Summary: On November 25, the Provisional Electoral Council
announced their decision to hold the first round of elections
January 8, the second round February 15, and local elections
March 5. The new dates do not respect the constitutionally
mandated February 7 power transition, but they are the
earliest dates the CEP and its international partners will be
able to technically hold elections while still allowing for
unforeseen problems. The CEP delivered a letter conveying
the decision to the PM late 24 November after several days of
often bruising meetings. End Summary.


2. The Provisional Electoral Council decided November 24 to
hold the first round of elections January 8, the second round
February 15, and local elections March 5. The CEP made the
long awaited decision in close cooperation with MINUSTAH
elections officials and OAS technical experts. The CEP sent
the time table to the Interim Government of Haiti late
November 24, and Prime Minister Latortue informed post that
President Alexandre planned to sign the decree November 25
legally fixing the dates. Though the date will not become
legal until it is promulgated through the government
newspaper, the Moniteur, CEP member Gerson Richeme, the
official spokesman, announced the date over the radio
November 25.


3. Though the new dates will not respect the constitutionally
mandated February 7 power transition, according CEP Director
General Jacques Bernard, respecting February 7 is no longer
technically feasible. MINUSTAH elections officials say they
need a minimum of five weeks from the beginning of ballot
printing to organize elections. MINUSTAH elections chief
Gerard Lechevallier told the core group November 23 that
ballot printing began November 23, meaning, with no problems,
the soonest elections could be held would be December 28. In
order to allow for unforeseen problems, the CEP decided to
build an extra eleven days into the schedule and hold the
first round January 8. Some CEP members wanted to respect
the February 7 transition by holding the second round
February 5. MINUSTAH projects that the CEP will need
slightly more than five weeks to organize a second round; the
CEP voted for the second round on February 15.


4. Charge met November 25 with Fanmi Lavalas (FL) leaders in
coalition with MIDH figure Mac Bazin. They expressed concern
regarding the selection of January 8 for the first round of
elections. Their concern relates to the Haitian tradition of
visiting home and family in the provinces during the end of
year holiday season. January 6 is of particular importance
to Haitians as the Catholic Holyday of Epiphany, which, more
important to Haitian society and culture, also corresponds to
a significant voodoo celebration. The FL partisans doubted
that the majority of Haitians would be in a position to cast
their ballots on January 8 as they would not have yet
returned to their usual residences.


5. Comment: The CEP decision leaves three questions open:
when the power transition would occur, who will govern Haiti
after the IGOH mandate runs out February 7, and what will
happen after MINUSTAH,s mandate runs out February 16. While
Lavalas raised a valid point about the Epiphany, the same can
be said of any date between December 15 and January 15.
Since the announcement over the radio, political party
leaders have commented on timing; the biggest criticism so
far has been that holding elections in three rounds will
stretch already under-funded political parties.

CARNEY