CHAMBER OF DEPUTIES UNABLE TO OBTAIN QUORUM

C O N F I D E N T I A L PORT AU PRINCE 002122

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR WHA/EX AND WHA/CAR
S/CRS
SOUTHCOMALSO FOR POLAD
STATE PASS AID FOR LAC/CAR
INR/IAA (BEN-YEHUDA)
WHA/EX PLEASE PASS USOAS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/31/2016
TAGS: PGOV PREL HA
SUBJECT: CHAMBER OF DEPUTIES UNABLE TO OBTAIN QUORUM

REF: PAP 1466

Classified By: Janet A. Sanderson for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).


1. (U) In the past three weeks, the chamber of deputies has
found it difficult to obtain a quorum often enough to act on
proposed legislation. President Preval on October 3 called
an extraordinary session of the chamber of deputies to
consider legislation on the structure of the judiciary, the
number of Ministries, importation of genetically modified
food, and the creation of an education partnership office
(ONAPE),and a World Bank agreement following the closure of
the ordinary session on September 12. Journalists speculate
that some members do not appear in protest against the
chamber's leadership (the executive bureau),led by chamber
President Eric Jean Jacques (L'Espwa, Delmas) while others
may simply not consider the legislation important enough to
interrupt their vacations. The National Assembly (the
combined senate and chamber of deputies) on October 23
gathered to vote on a road development program financed by
the World Bank. The senate had sufficient members present,
but the deputies lacked a quorum, causing friction between
the two chambers.


2. (C) Deputy Steven Benoit (L'Espwa-Petionville) on October
27 stated that he was &fed up8 with the Jean-Jacques'
leadership of the chamber and reminded poloff that he always
knew that morale would be a problem (reftel). Benoit accused
the president of playing favorites within the chamber in
order to maintain his support. Opportunities to represent
the country abroad or participate in other fora are not open
to all, but quietly given to &choice8 deputies.
Additionally, many of the daily operations are no longer
transparent despite Benoit,s presence at parliament every
day.


3. (C) Deputy Roland Lareche (FUSION-Capotille) in an October
31 discussion agreed with Benoit's assessment of the
chamber,s leadership, saying that the majority of the
executive bureau, consisting of five deputies from different
political parties is &incompetent and arrogant.8 He
excluded the first secretary, Deputy Acklush Louis Jeune
(OPL-Dame Marie) and the treasurer, Maxeau Balthazar
(FUSION-Belle-Anse) from this characterization. Lareche also
blamed President Preval for the difficulty in maintaining a
quorum. "The President waited until we went on vacation to
present laws. We were in session for 5 months, and no laws."


4. (C) Jean Jacques has a more difficult task than the
president of the senate according to Gabriel Verrett,
Preval's economic advisor. The chamber has 17 parties and no
established majority coalition, making management of the
house a challenge. Verrett noted that though chamber's
executive board is comprised of 5 political parties it does
not benefit from this broad representation under Jean
Jacques' leadership. Verret believes that the president's
strength, "wanting everyone to like him and get along" is
also his weakness, as he does impose his will on the other
members of the lower house.


4. Comment: Post has direct experience with the executive
bureau's management weakness, as chamber leaders have missed
several embassy appointments. The chamber leadership's poor
performance stands in contrast to the relatively strong
performance of the senate leadership under President Joseph
Lambert. Whether or not the chamber can pull itself together
to move on the legislation currently pending, it appears that
widespread dissatisfaction among the deputies will lead to
the election of new leadership at the beginning of the next
regular session come January. End Comment.
SANDERSON