Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06PORTAUPRINCE222
2006-01-30 20:24:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Port Au Prince
Cable title:
HAITI ELECTIONS: 30 SENATORIAL SEATS AT STAKE
how-toVZCZCXYZ0003 RR RUEHWEB DE RUEHPU #0222/01 0302024 ZNY CCCCC ZZH R 302024Z JAN 06 FM AMEMBASSY PORT AU PRINCE TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 2239 INFO RUEHZH/HAITI COLLECTIVE RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 0124 RUEHSA/AMEMBASSY PRETORIA 0767 RUEHRB/AMEMBASSY RABAT 0115 RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC RUMIAAA/HQ USSOUTHCOM J2 MIAMI FL RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 0807 RUCOWCV/CCGDSEVEN MIAMI FL//OLE/OI//
C O N F I D E N T I A L PORT AU PRINCE 000222
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR WHA AND USOAS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/29/2016
TAGS: KDEM PREL PGOV HA
SUBJECT: HAITI ELECTIONS: 30 SENATORIAL SEATS AT STAKE
REF: 05 PAP 2945
Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission Douglas M. Griffiths for Reasons
: 1.4 (b and d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L PORT AU PRINCE 000222
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR WHA AND USOAS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/29/2016
TAGS: KDEM PREL PGOV HA
SUBJECT: HAITI ELECTIONS: 30 SENATORIAL SEATS AT STAKE
REF: 05 PAP 2945
Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission Douglas M. Griffiths for Reasons
: 1.4 (b and d)
1. (U) Summary. Voters will elect thirty members to the
Haitian senate in the upcoming elections, three each from the
country's ten departments. No single party is likely to gain
a majority in either the senate or the chamber of deputies,
thus the new President and parliament will likely have to
compromise in choosing a prime minister and cabinet
ministers. Little polling exists on the individual senate
races, though many analysts judge that front-running
candidate Rene Preval will face a majority from parties that
opposed him. In Embassy-sponsored polling, however, Preval's
L'Espwa party registers high support generally. A wide range
of parties contesting the second round of the Senate races
will hopefully lead to widespread acceptance of the
credibility of first round results. Beginning in paragraph
5, post provides capsule summaries of the races by
department. End Summary.
WHO WINS WHAT
--------------
2. (U) A total of 302 candidates from 45 parties will
contest the thirty available senate seats. Voters will vote
for three candidates in each department. The six top vote
getters from each race in first round on February 7 will
advance to the second round on March 19. In the second
round, the first top vote getter will win a six-year term,
the second top vote getter will win a four-year term, and the
third top vote getter will win a two-year term. Elections
for senate are to take place every two years henceforth with
future winners obtaining a six-year term. If a candidate
receives a majority of votes in first round he or she will
automatically win the six-year term and avoid a second round
run-off. In this case, only the top four vote getters from
that senatorial race would go into the second round, with the
top vote getter winning a four-year term, and the second top
vote getter winning a two-year term.
THE HORSE RACES
--------------
3. (SBU) It appears that senate seats will be widely
dispersed among the several parties. More coherence may
emerge in the lower house, where traditional parties have
some organizational advantages in a wider field of deputy
races. Many observers judge that the more established FUSION
and OPL parties, members of the nine-party Political Entente
for Modernity and Democracy formed in opposition to Preval,
may win the largest number of seats in the lower house.
Media reported January 25 that within the Entente itself, the
center-right GFCD of presidential candidate Hubert DeRonceray
and center-left FUSION party of presidential candidate Serge
Gilles signed a separate accord promising to implement their
programs jointly if one or the other wins the presidency and
seats in the parliament. However, Preval's L'Espwa party
(formed only months ago as a vehicle for his presidential
candidacy) and newcomer Tet Ansamn (allied with since
disqualified dual-national Dumarsais Simeus) both appear to
have gained strong support, and could together with Fami
Lavalas potentially form a strong populist blck.
3. (SBU) In any case, we believe it highly likely that the
new Haitian president will have t forge a compromise with a
disparate grouping of parties in order to choose a prime
minister and cabinet. According to Haiti's constitution, if
there is no majority party in parliament from which the
president may choose a prime minister, the president must
consult with the presidents of the two chambers in selecting
a candidate subject to the majority approval of both houses.
4. (SBU) Little polling data exists regarding senate races.
Post's comments on likely winners and strong candidates
reflect anecdotal evidence and impressions from our limited
recent travel throughout the country.
West (Port-au-Prince)
--------------
5. (C) This is by far the most contested race, with twenty
eight parties fielding a total of fifty-four candidates (Tet
Ansamn alone is running four candidates). Strong candidates
include:
Myrlande Manigat (RDNP)
Daniel Supplice (PLH)
Luckner Desir (MPH)
Henri Robert Sterlin (ADRENA)
Rudy Heriveaux (Fanmi Lavalas)
Marie Denise Claude (FUSION)
Others who appear to command some following include:
Price Cyprien (FUSION)
Jean-Francois Deus (GFCD)
Stanley Charles Theard (JPDN)
Anacacis Jean-Hector (L'Espwa)
Sylvio Dieudonne (MOCHRENHA)
J.P. Rodrigue Mathieu (OPL)
Many believe Myrlande Manigat (wife of presidential candidate
Leslie Manigat) is the strongest senatorial candidate in the
country with good chances of winning a seat in the first
round.
South (Les Cayes)
--------------
4. (C) Eighteen parties are fielding thirty-six candidates.
Out of those candidates, only former senator Joseph Yvon
Feuille of Fanmi Lavalas appears assured of entering the
second round. UNCHR's presidential candidate Chavannes
Jean-Baptise is popular in the south, but we question whether
his strength will translate into support for his party's
senatorial candidates.
North (Cap-Haitien)
--------------
5. (C) Thirteen parties are fielding twenty-eight
candidates. Alyans' presidential candidate Evans Paul
originally hails from Cap-Haitien, and it remains a party
stronghold. Likely candidates to make it into the second
round include:
Friendly Denis Julien (PLH)
Johnson Mesidor (Alyans)
Southeast (Jacmel)
--------------
6. (C) Thirteen parties are fielding twenty-seven
candidates. Candidates likely to make it round two include:
Francois Annibal Coffy (FUSION)
Joseph Lambert (L'Espwa)
Eugene George Frantz Large (L'Espwa)
Grand-Anse (Jeremie)
--------------
7. (C) Sixteen parties are fielding twenty-eight
candidates. Only former Jeremie mayor Jean Herve Beauport of
Tet Ansamn appears assured of entering the second round.
Nippes (Miragoane)
--------------
8. (C) Thirteen parties are fielding twenty-five
candidates. Out of those candidates, only former senator
(and president of the senate) Edgard LeBlanc of OPL appears
assured of entering the second round.
Central Plateau (Hinche)
--------------
9. (C) Sixteen parties are fielding twenty-eight
candidates. During Poloff's trip to Hinche in mid-December,
there were a significant number of campaign posters
throughout the region, but only L'Espwa established an
office. L'Espwa's candidates include Jean Wilbert Jacques
and Ultimo Compere. Charles Henry Baker's campaign manager,
Chavannes Jean-Baptiste, a leader of the Papaye Peasants
Movement (MPP) organization, is headquartered in Hinche and
is affiliated with KOMBA. KOMBA's candidates include Gilbert
Augustin, Mona Bernadieu and Nesly Phelle. Joseph Fignole
Jean-Louis of UNITE may do well based on name recognition.
Daniel Fignole was an extremely popular politician in the
1950's who was an early ally but later nemesis of Francois
"Papa Doc" Duvalier. Fignole was provisional president of
Haiti for eighteen days before being overthrown and sent into
exile ahead of Duvalier's 1957 election to power.
Northwest (Ouanaminthe/Fort Liberte)
--------------
10. (C) Eleven parties are fielding twenty-three
candidates, including one independent. Out of those
candidates, only Rudolph Boulos (brother of Haiti's Chamber
of Commerce president Reginald Boulos),representing FUSION,
appears assured of entering the second round. (Note: A
Boulos' win may be contested, however, as rumors of his U.S.
citizenship are circulating. End Note.)
Artibonite (Gonaives)
--------------
11. (C) Sixteen parties are fielding twenty-nine
candidates. Gonaives is the birthplace of MOCHRENHA's
founder and presidential candidate Luc Mesadieu. One of
MOCHRENHA's senatorial candidates is the son of the party's
vice president (who is himself a candidate in the senatorial
race in the West). The likely candidates to make it into the
second round include:
Winter Etienne (FRN)
Youri Latortue (LAAA-Artibonite in Action)
Francois Fouchard Bergrome (LAAA)
Noel Emmanuel Limage (L'Espwa)
Enock Gene Genelus (MPH)
Sadrac Dieudonne (MOCHRENHA)
The strongest candidates in this race appear to be Youri
Latortue (nephew, and former chief of security, of interim
Prime Minister Gerard Latortue),Enock Genelus and Winter
Etienne. Many believe Youri Latortue has good chances of
winning a seat in first round. Rumors abound that he has
used his access to government resources to build his support.
Northwest (Port-de-Paix)
--------------
12. (C) Fifteen parties are fielding twenty-four
candidates. The strongest candidates appear to be:
Henry Alcidonas (Tet Ansamn)
Fresnel Stephen (Tet Ansamn)
Bethony Henry (L'Espwa)
Joseph Leonard (FUSION)
Eddy Bastien (Alyans)
CARNEY
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR WHA AND USOAS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/29/2016
TAGS: KDEM PREL PGOV HA
SUBJECT: HAITI ELECTIONS: 30 SENATORIAL SEATS AT STAKE
REF: 05 PAP 2945
Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission Douglas M. Griffiths for Reasons
: 1.4 (b and d)
1. (U) Summary. Voters will elect thirty members to the
Haitian senate in the upcoming elections, three each from the
country's ten departments. No single party is likely to gain
a majority in either the senate or the chamber of deputies,
thus the new President and parliament will likely have to
compromise in choosing a prime minister and cabinet
ministers. Little polling exists on the individual senate
races, though many analysts judge that front-running
candidate Rene Preval will face a majority from parties that
opposed him. In Embassy-sponsored polling, however, Preval's
L'Espwa party registers high support generally. A wide range
of parties contesting the second round of the Senate races
will hopefully lead to widespread acceptance of the
credibility of first round results. Beginning in paragraph
5, post provides capsule summaries of the races by
department. End Summary.
WHO WINS WHAT
--------------
2. (U) A total of 302 candidates from 45 parties will
contest the thirty available senate seats. Voters will vote
for three candidates in each department. The six top vote
getters from each race in first round on February 7 will
advance to the second round on March 19. In the second
round, the first top vote getter will win a six-year term,
the second top vote getter will win a four-year term, and the
third top vote getter will win a two-year term. Elections
for senate are to take place every two years henceforth with
future winners obtaining a six-year term. If a candidate
receives a majority of votes in first round he or she will
automatically win the six-year term and avoid a second round
run-off. In this case, only the top four vote getters from
that senatorial race would go into the second round, with the
top vote getter winning a four-year term, and the second top
vote getter winning a two-year term.
THE HORSE RACES
--------------
3. (SBU) It appears that senate seats will be widely
dispersed among the several parties. More coherence may
emerge in the lower house, where traditional parties have
some organizational advantages in a wider field of deputy
races. Many observers judge that the more established FUSION
and OPL parties, members of the nine-party Political Entente
for Modernity and Democracy formed in opposition to Preval,
may win the largest number of seats in the lower house.
Media reported January 25 that within the Entente itself, the
center-right GFCD of presidential candidate Hubert DeRonceray
and center-left FUSION party of presidential candidate Serge
Gilles signed a separate accord promising to implement their
programs jointly if one or the other wins the presidency and
seats in the parliament. However, Preval's L'Espwa party
(formed only months ago as a vehicle for his presidential
candidacy) and newcomer Tet Ansamn (allied with since
disqualified dual-national Dumarsais Simeus) both appear to
have gained strong support, and could together with Fami
Lavalas potentially form a strong populist blck.
3. (SBU) In any case, we believe it highly likely that the
new Haitian president will have t forge a compromise with a
disparate grouping of parties in order to choose a prime
minister and cabinet. According to Haiti's constitution, if
there is no majority party in parliament from which the
president may choose a prime minister, the president must
consult with the presidents of the two chambers in selecting
a candidate subject to the majority approval of both houses.
4. (SBU) Little polling data exists regarding senate races.
Post's comments on likely winners and strong candidates
reflect anecdotal evidence and impressions from our limited
recent travel throughout the country.
West (Port-au-Prince)
--------------
5. (C) This is by far the most contested race, with twenty
eight parties fielding a total of fifty-four candidates (Tet
Ansamn alone is running four candidates). Strong candidates
include:
Myrlande Manigat (RDNP)
Daniel Supplice (PLH)
Luckner Desir (MPH)
Henri Robert Sterlin (ADRENA)
Rudy Heriveaux (Fanmi Lavalas)
Marie Denise Claude (FUSION)
Others who appear to command some following include:
Price Cyprien (FUSION)
Jean-Francois Deus (GFCD)
Stanley Charles Theard (JPDN)
Anacacis Jean-Hector (L'Espwa)
Sylvio Dieudonne (MOCHRENHA)
J.P. Rodrigue Mathieu (OPL)
Many believe Myrlande Manigat (wife of presidential candidate
Leslie Manigat) is the strongest senatorial candidate in the
country with good chances of winning a seat in the first
round.
South (Les Cayes)
--------------
4. (C) Eighteen parties are fielding thirty-six candidates.
Out of those candidates, only former senator Joseph Yvon
Feuille of Fanmi Lavalas appears assured of entering the
second round. UNCHR's presidential candidate Chavannes
Jean-Baptise is popular in the south, but we question whether
his strength will translate into support for his party's
senatorial candidates.
North (Cap-Haitien)
--------------
5. (C) Thirteen parties are fielding twenty-eight
candidates. Alyans' presidential candidate Evans Paul
originally hails from Cap-Haitien, and it remains a party
stronghold. Likely candidates to make it into the second
round include:
Friendly Denis Julien (PLH)
Johnson Mesidor (Alyans)
Southeast (Jacmel)
--------------
6. (C) Thirteen parties are fielding twenty-seven
candidates. Candidates likely to make it round two include:
Francois Annibal Coffy (FUSION)
Joseph Lambert (L'Espwa)
Eugene George Frantz Large (L'Espwa)
Grand-Anse (Jeremie)
--------------
7. (C) Sixteen parties are fielding twenty-eight
candidates. Only former Jeremie mayor Jean Herve Beauport of
Tet Ansamn appears assured of entering the second round.
Nippes (Miragoane)
--------------
8. (C) Thirteen parties are fielding twenty-five
candidates. Out of those candidates, only former senator
(and president of the senate) Edgard LeBlanc of OPL appears
assured of entering the second round.
Central Plateau (Hinche)
--------------
9. (C) Sixteen parties are fielding twenty-eight
candidates. During Poloff's trip to Hinche in mid-December,
there were a significant number of campaign posters
throughout the region, but only L'Espwa established an
office. L'Espwa's candidates include Jean Wilbert Jacques
and Ultimo Compere. Charles Henry Baker's campaign manager,
Chavannes Jean-Baptiste, a leader of the Papaye Peasants
Movement (MPP) organization, is headquartered in Hinche and
is affiliated with KOMBA. KOMBA's candidates include Gilbert
Augustin, Mona Bernadieu and Nesly Phelle. Joseph Fignole
Jean-Louis of UNITE may do well based on name recognition.
Daniel Fignole was an extremely popular politician in the
1950's who was an early ally but later nemesis of Francois
"Papa Doc" Duvalier. Fignole was provisional president of
Haiti for eighteen days before being overthrown and sent into
exile ahead of Duvalier's 1957 election to power.
Northwest (Ouanaminthe/Fort Liberte)
--------------
10. (C) Eleven parties are fielding twenty-three
candidates, including one independent. Out of those
candidates, only Rudolph Boulos (brother of Haiti's Chamber
of Commerce president Reginald Boulos),representing FUSION,
appears assured of entering the second round. (Note: A
Boulos' win may be contested, however, as rumors of his U.S.
citizenship are circulating. End Note.)
Artibonite (Gonaives)
--------------
11. (C) Sixteen parties are fielding twenty-nine
candidates. Gonaives is the birthplace of MOCHRENHA's
founder and presidential candidate Luc Mesadieu. One of
MOCHRENHA's senatorial candidates is the son of the party's
vice president (who is himself a candidate in the senatorial
race in the West). The likely candidates to make it into the
second round include:
Winter Etienne (FRN)
Youri Latortue (LAAA-Artibonite in Action)
Francois Fouchard Bergrome (LAAA)
Noel Emmanuel Limage (L'Espwa)
Enock Gene Genelus (MPH)
Sadrac Dieudonne (MOCHRENHA)
The strongest candidates in this race appear to be Youri
Latortue (nephew, and former chief of security, of interim
Prime Minister Gerard Latortue),Enock Genelus and Winter
Etienne. Many believe Youri Latortue has good chances of
winning a seat in first round. Rumors abound that he has
used his access to government resources to build his support.
Northwest (Port-de-Paix)
--------------
12. (C) Fifteen parties are fielding twenty-four
candidates. The strongest candidates appear to be:
Henry Alcidonas (Tet Ansamn)
Fresnel Stephen (Tet Ansamn)
Bethony Henry (L'Espwa)
Joseph Leonard (FUSION)
Eddy Bastien (Alyans)
CARNEY