NEW DATES FOR HAITIAN ELECTIONS OFFICIAL

UNCLAS PORT AU PRINCE 002941 SIPDIS STATE FOR WHA/CAR DRL S/CRS SOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD STATE PASS AID FOR LAC/CAR INR/IAA (BEN-YEHUDA) TREASURY FOR MAUREEN WAFER E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PREL KDEM HA SUBJECT: NEW DATES FOR HAITIAN ELECTIONS OFFICIAL ¶1. Post received November 29 a copy of the Moniteur, the official government newspaper, which established new dates for the Haitian election by executive order. The edition, marked as published November 28, convenes the first round of national elections January 8, the runoff February 15, and local elections March 5. The order states that the new president will assume power February 24. ¶2. The new elections dates will not allow the Provisional Electoral Council (CEP),government and their international partners to respect the February 7 transition to an elected government. However, the interim government pledged over the radio November 29 to resign when its mandate expires February 7 and preside only over the day to day operations of state until the newly elected president can be sworn in. ¶3. Comment: The new dates create some wiggle room for elections implementors. Ballot printing, ID card distribution and poll worker training have all begun, but remain the areas with the least maneuvering room. In all three areas, implementors will have ten days or less to deal with unforeseen problems. Broad acceptance of the government assertion that it will step down after February 7 and cover daily operations of the state until February 24 will only be possible if it gains the support of the Council of Eminent Persons, the body that originally established the interim government under the April 4, 2004 accord. KERST