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
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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