HAITI ELECTIONS: PRESIDENTIAL DEBATES

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 PORT AU PRINCE 003003 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PGOV HA SUBJECT: HAITI ELECTIONS: PRESIDENTIAL DEBATES REF: A. PORT-AU-PRINCE 2989 ¶B. PORT-AU-PRINCE 2945 ¶1. (SBU) Summary: The first round of a series of six debates between leading presidential candidates concluded December 1. A total of eight candidates squared off in the debates, organized by the local organization ECOSOF and sponsored by the US Embassy Public Diplomacy section. The three debates received wide coverage on Haitian television and radio including live radio broadcasts of the debates and several airings of each debate on television. The debates also featured prominently in local news broadcasts. Marc Bazin, Rigaud Duplan, and Serge Gilles began the series November 17. Charles Henri Baker, Paul Denis, and Luc Mesadieu participated in the November 24 debate. The third round was between Evans Paul and Leslie Manigat on December ¶1. Rene Preval, former president and current presidential front-runner, garnered criticism for his refusal to participate. A second series of three debates with the same candidates squaring off against different opponents is scheduled to begin December 12. End Summary. Bazin, Gilles, and Duplan Face-Off -------------- ¶2. (U) The major themes raised in the first debate included security, justice, and the economy. Marc Bazin (Union pour Haiti, a formal alliance between MIDH, Movement to Introduce Democracy in Haiti, and Fanmi Lavalas leadership) focused on the institutional reinforcement of the police and was the only one of the three candidates to question why Haiti would need to reconstitute an army. Bazin also emphasized improving infrastructure, including the privatization of the national electricity company, the importance of budgetary discipline, and the need to build a participatory, competent and honest administration. Serge Gilles (Fusion Party of Social Democrats, a merger of three smaller parties - PANPRA, KONAKOM, and Ayiti Kapab) concentrated his remarks on re-launching the Haitian economy and re-establishing the army. Gilles stated that Haiti needed political and economic stability and transparency in government operations. Rigaud Duplan (Party for Justice for Peace and National Development) focused on security and justice. Duplan, the lesser known of the three, is a former Minister of Finance and is a prominent attorney in Port-au-Prince. ¶3. (U) An informal poll of the audience after the debate found Bazin to be the "most convincing" with 51% of the audience to Gilles' 39%, but Gilles prevailed as the candidate with the "best program" with 49% to Bazin's 33% and Duplan's 18%. Mesadieu, Denis, and Baker in Round Two -------------- ¶4. (U) Luc Mesadieu (Christian Movement for a New Haiti, MOCHRENA),highlighted the need for political stability, transparency in government, rule of law, and international investment. Mesadieu stressed employment, education, and the environment. Paul Denis (Struggling People's Organization, OPL),spoke primarily of the need for a decentralized government and for infrastructure development. He ended his initial presentation by providing an organized list of his ideas to improve Haiti. Denis voiced his opposition to the re-establishment of the army saying it was a question of economics. Charles Henri Baker, an unaffiliated, independent presidential candidate, spoke of the need for "order, discipline, work" (in Creole - lod, disiplin, travay),the slogan of his campaign. Baker referred to himself in the third person and used his catchphase repeatedly in all of his interventions. His initial presentation focused on the need for security and development of the police and the justice system. He, like Mesadieu, called for the reinstitution of the army. Baker also mentioned the need for a re-forestation program for Haiti's denuded landscape. ¶5. (U) The post-debate poll of the audience gave Baker and Mesadieu a virtual tie for "most convincing" with 36% and 34% respectively. However, Baker prevailed for having the best policy platform with a strong 42% of the audience. Denis and Mesadieu followed with 28% and 23% respectively on the same question. Manigat and Paul Go Head-to-Head -------------- ¶6. (SBU) Lesly Manigat (National Assembly of Progressive Democrats, RDNP),gave a rousing introduction addressing the audience in a manner more suited to a political rally than a debate forum. He referred to his party's platform in his presentation but provided few details, relying on rhetorical references to the misery and suffering of Haiti and the Haitian people to get his message across. Manigat sat between interventions which highlighted his age, and does not bode well for his stamina as president. Evans Paul's (Alyans) straightforward language, organized platform presentation, and robust physical presence contrasted sharply with Manigat's. ¶7. (U) Evans Paul came out ahead on both post-debate questions: "most convincing" at 57% to Manigat's 33%; and "best program" at 48% to Manigat's better showing on this issue with 42%. ¶8. (SBU) Presidential front-runner, Rene Preval, declined to participate in this first series of debates, a fact for which Lesly Manigat publicly castigated him. Preval claimed in a meeting with Charge that he and his new party, Platform for Hope, were still ironing out the details of their platform (Ref A). The Embassy is actively encouraging Preval to participate in the second round of debates. ¶9. (U) Comment: The debate series garnered serious media coverage, though media preoccupation with unsettled elections preparations and the then-uncertain election dates diluted attention paid to the candidate's programs. Still, the quality of the organization and the media exposure for the first round promoted a healthy discussion of issues. Debates in previous elections had not been as professionally produced and organized nor as inclusive. With election dates set and the campaign formally underway, we expect intensified interest and coverage of the second round. End Comment. CARNEY