LAVALAS DEPUTIES GEAR UP FOR ELECTIONS

C O N F I D E N T I A L PORT AU PRINCE 000221 SIPDIS SIPDIS SOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/25/2011 TAGS: PGOV PREL HA SUBJECT: LAVALAS DEPUTIES GEAR UP FOR ELECTIONS REF: PORT-AU-PRINCE 129 Classified By: DCM Douglas Griffiths. Reasons 1.4 b and d. ¶1. (C) Summary: Former Fanmi Lavalas (FL) Deputy Franky Exius and Rogavil Boisguene, both current Lavalas candidates for the Haitian Parliament's lower house Chamber of Deputies, met with poloff to assert that the issue of security as a bar to elections is a "faux" problem and to voice concerns regarding various logistical arrangements for the February 7 national elections. The candidates expressed a willingness to go forward with their campaigns honoring the February 7th date but questioned whether all necessary preparations can be completed in time to allow an election contest free of logistical flaws fatal to the election's credibility. Despite an admission of concern that Rene Preval appears to be increasing his sizable lead over other presidential contenders, Exius reiterated that both he and Boisguene were running under the Union for Haiti banner affirming their belief that presidential candidate Marc Bazin's appeal to all sectors of Haitian society makes him the best choice for Haiti's future. In a subsequent meeting January 25, Dr. Gerald Pierre, former deputy and current independent candidate for the Chamber of Deputies for the third district of Trou du Nord, North East Department, was anxious to compete in the February 7 elections confident of his victory, and hopeful that the newly elected Parliament would be a stronger institution due to a more diverse mix of political parties. End Summary. ¶2. (C) Exius and Boisguene insisted that the issue of security is being used as a pretext by those who wish to see the elections delayed. Both said they were in the throes of campaigning and fully intended to proceed to the February 7 election contest which they both expected they would win. The candidates expressed concern that adequate logistical preparations for the election have not been made but roundly discounted the issue of security as a stumbling block to elections, characterizing it a "faux" problem. Exius, a former deputy from the Torbeck/Chantal constituency near Les Cayes, South Department, and Boisguene, a former Departmental Election Bureau chief from the Port-au-Prince area, contended that the level of street violence and insecurity was higher in the run-up to the 2000 elections than now. Exius argued that the insecurity is contained within Cite Soleil. When pushed on the incidence of kidnappings, he replied that kidnappings are taking place but at no greater or lesser extent than in recent years. (Note: Exius was involved in the ransom negotiations during the December kidnapping of former FL colleague and close friend Emmanuel Cantave. Cantave was released unharmed after five days. End Note.) ¶3. (SBU) On the electoral preparations front, Exius and Boisguene provided an example from each of their respective districts citing the voting centers as not sufficient to house the number of polling stations and thus the potentials voters. Exius offered that in one voting center in the Torbeck district, a school of three classrooms, is slated to house 19 polling stations. Boisguene claimed that the Toussaint Louverture school in central Port-au-Prince did not have enough space to house the projected 43 polls. Additionally, he said that the school had only two points of ingress/egress. Note: Neither of these locations were part of the recent reshuffling of voting centers (reftel). End note. ¶4. (C) In this most recent meeting and in previous encounters with Exius, he spoke of his party's Parliamentary plans. In particular he referred to three possible constitutional amendments regarding the reconstitution of the army, allowance for holding dual nationality, and a change from three to one mayor in municipal hierarchies. He noted that the importance of Parliament as an institution was not recognized in previous administrations but a strong institution was vital for the health of a democracy. Exius hopes to become the leader of the Fanmi Lavalas bloc within the Chamber of Deputies and is also interested in the chairmanship of the Interior and Collectivities Committee. For his part and despite lacking previous Parliamentary experience, Boisguene aspires to the vice presidency of the Chamber. ¶5. (C) Dr. Gerald Pierre is a former independent Deputy and is running for re-election to his seat in the Terrier Rouge area of the North East Department. He is confident of victory, citing his community service record and widespread public recognition within his district. He did not evince security concerns regarding the election and was committed to the February 7 date. While he is again running as an independent, he has loosely aligned himself with presidential candidate Jean Marie Cherestal's political group "Pont" or Bridge. He only spoke to Cherestal once during this campaign but appreciated the idea of bridging the wide gaps in Haitian society. (Note: Cherestal, a former prime minister under Aristide, officially broke his association with the Lavalas party to run under his own banner for President. Prior to Aristide's departure, he had taken pains, though privately and informally, to distance himself from Aristide and Fanmi Lavalas. End Note.) Previously, Pierre, a medical doctor and handicapped himself, was active in the Public Health Committee of the Chamber of Deputies and is interested in resuming this interest. ¶6. (C) Comment: As de facto incumbents, Exius and Pierre have a respectable chance of returning to Parliament, possibly in the first round. Boisguene running in the largely disadvantaged area of Martissant may use his Fanmi Lavalas membership and credentials to good effect but at best will probably have to go to the second round. Undoubtedly, issues relating to the capacity of the voting centers as well as other electoral administration issues will arise on election day. However, to the extent possible, electoral administration issues seem to have been adequately addressed. ¶7. (C) Comment continued: Under the 1987 Haitian Constitution, the Parliament is potentially a strong institution and under the right conditions could serve as a valuable check on the Presidency. Under Aristide, his authoritarian leadership of the Fanmi Lavalas party permitted near total control of the Lavalas-dominated Parliament. Recognition by Exius of the importance of Parliament as an institution is somewhat disingenuous as he clearly toed the Lavalas party line as determined by Aristide in the previous legislature. That said, if he wins, like all of the new parliamentarians, he will have an opportunity unprecedented in Haitian history to build a democratic tradition in what is likely to be a very diverse Parliament. End Comment. CARNEY