SIMEUS URGES HAITIANS TO VOTE; NOT SUPPORTING ANY

C O N F I D E N T I A L PORT AU PRINCE 000253 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR WHA AND USOAS E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/02/2016 TAGS: KDEM PREL PGOV HA SUBJECT: SIMEUS URGES HAITIANS TO VOTE; NOT SUPPORTING ANY PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Timothy M. Carney for Reasons: 1.4 (b and d) ¶1. (C) Summary: Charge met with disqualified AmCit presidential candidate Dumarsais Simeus February 1. Simeus said he would hold a press conference February 2 to encourage people to vote. He further explained that he would not publicly back any presidential candidate, but would fully support the Tet Ansamn party in legislative elections. Simeus underscored that he would serve a role in the next Haitian government, but maintain his independence to be able to voice his own opinion. Simeus believes Preval will be the next president of Haiti. End Summary. ¶2. (SBU) Charge met with disqualified Tet Ansamn presidential candidate (and AmCit) Dumarsais Simeus February ¶1. Dr. FNU Parisienne of New York; Center for Free Enterprise and Democracy's (CLED) executive secretary Lionel Delatour; and French Chamber of Commerce vice president Gregory Brandt accompanied Simeus. Simeus arrived in country January 30 after a retreat in Texas with his Haitian and American campaign advisors regarding his next steps in the Haitian elections. Support for February 7 Elections -------------- ¶3. (SBU) Simeus told Charge he would hold a press conference February 2 to read a short statement encouraging people to vote. Simeus said there was "no need to rehash what happened in the past" (referring to the judicial decision in his favor) "or to bad mouth the international community." He said his decision to support the elections was based on guidance from his advisors (including Richard Coles) as it was "not about any man, or party, but it's for the country" and Haiti "must move from chapter one to chapter two." Brandt added that this position would ensure Simeus remained an "independent and free man" who will support the newly elected government. Simeus noted he had agreed to SRSG Valdes' request that he make a public statement following the elections in support of the results. He said he would do so "if the elections are acceptable," but could not "if there is an outcry by all sectors." ¶4. (SBU) Parisienne raised a word of caution explaining that pro-Lavalas radio stations in New York are strongly encouraging the electorate to vote next Tuesday. Parisienne ventured that former president Aristide's recent change in message now supportive of the elections could lead to a higher turnout. Brandt noted the same message is being echoed in Port-au-Prince throughout the past week and Lavalas candidates (namely West senate candidate Rudy Heriveaux) are asking the populace to vote for a L'Espwa president and Lavalas' candidates for parliament touting "Vote One, Vote Three." (Note: L'Espwa is the first number of the ballot, Lavalas the third. End Note.) Not Supporting Any Presidential Candidate -------------- ¶5. (SBU) Simeus said that he had met with Preval earlier February 1 to explain his decision not to publicly back any candidate (they last met in December). (Note: Brandt said a similar message was communicated to Manigat. End Note.) Preval is confident of his chances in the presidential race, having just completed a campaign swing through the North, but "went out of his way to ask for (Simeus') support," according to Simeus. Simeus said he has long been bombarded by various candidates (extensively by Preval and Leslie Manigat) seeking his support, but that he would not back any presidential candidate due to the country's current "paralysis." He told Charge that Preval would win in the first round if Simeus publicly supported him. Simeus said he considers Charles Henry Baker a "hardliner." Simeus later said that he further did not want his support of another candidate to be interpreted as some sort of "acquiesence to the interim government." With respect to the legislative races, however, Simeus would fully support the Tet Ansamn party. Preval's First Moves Important -------------- ¶6. (C) Brandt opined that the first six months of the transition would be key to the success of the newly elected government. Delatour added that with interim Prime Minister Latortue formally resigning next Tuesday, he would remain a lame duck through the first weeks of a second Preval presidency. He noted there was not a great deal of rapport between the interim government and Preval's team. Delatour pointed out that should Preval win in the first round, he would have approximately seven weeks before inauguration. Simeus' group recommended Preval visit major capitals prior to inauguration, including Washington, D.C. and New York (sic). Charge recommended adding Ottawa to the list. Preval, receptive to the idea, insisted he would visit Brasilia and Santiago. (Comment: It is unclear if Preval made the recommendation out of respect to those countries' contributions to MINUSTAH or because of their respective presidents' socialist background. End Comment.) Delatour stated that Preval "reached out and felt Simeus should be present" when Preval travels to Washington. Simeus had also met with SRSG Valdes February 1 who shared the World Bank would be hosting a donors meeting February 21 and that either Preval, or his advisors, should attend if elected in the first round. Stands Ready to Play Role in Assisting New Government -------------- ¶7. (SBU) Simeus underscored that he would serve a role in the next Haitian government, but that he would maintain his independence in order to be able to voice his own opinion "without worrying about any party." Simeus said he would concentrate on attracting foreign investment and be willing to attend government meetings to provide advice, but that he did not want to "become an employee of the newly elected government." Simeus indicated he encouraged Preval to think about what type of personnel would fill spots at key ministries, and insisted Preval consider members of the diaspora to play a significant role. Charge supported this recommendation and further encouraged Simeus to provide Preval's team with a profile to fill positions, rather than putting individual names forward, with the exception that all should support Mario Andresol to continue as head of the Haitian National Police. Constitution Reform Necessary -------------- ¶8. (SBU) Simeus wholeheartedly agreed with Charge's suggestion that the newly elected parliament act as a constituent assembly. Simeus advocated that "the Haitian diaspora must be included" to avoid repeating the same arguments in the 2011 presidential elections. Both agreed amending the constitution in its current state would take too long. (Note: currently, amendments must be ratified by two sitting successive parliaments, necessitating at least a decade to implement a change. End Note.) Brandt noted that Preval was vague when the constitution was mentioned and sidestepped any discussion of it. ¶9. (C) Comment: We are delighted to hear Simeus is fully supportive of the electoral process and no longer arguing his name should be on the presidential ballot. Simeus shared his optimism for next week's elections and said he had "matured" from his experience. His advisors convinced him that he could play a powerful role in any future government, if he "takes the higher road and steps aside for the good of Haiti" (which Simeus oft-repeated). It is clear that he (and his advisors) believes Preval will be the next president of Haiti. End Comment. CARNEY