NEW DATES FOR HAITIAN ELECTION SET, FIRST ROUND

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 PORT AU PRINCE 000045 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR WHA/CAR DRL S/CRS SOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD STATE PASS AID FOR LAC/CAR INR/IAA (BEN-YEHUDA) TREASURY FOR JEFFREY LEVINE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PREL KDEM PKAO HA SUBJECT: NEW DATES FOR HAITIAN ELECTION SET, FIRST ROUND FEBRUARY 7 ¶1. Summary: After a weekend of political maneuvering, the first round of national elections is set for February 7, the second round for March 12, the inauguration for March 29, and the local and municipal elections for April 30. Elections machinations began January 6 when the Provisional Electoral Council (CEP) rejected UN Security Council and OAS pressure to schedule the first round of elections for February 7. Pressure on the PM and CEP from the international community, however, helped avoid calls for delays during a January 7 cabinet meeting on elections and galvanize the CEP to vote for February 7 elections. According to the PM, the executive order convening the first round of elections February 7 is signed and needs only be published. End Summary. ¶2. The UN Security Council and OAS declared January 6 that the Interim Government of Haiti must hold the first round of national elections by February 7. Though the Provisional Electoral Council (CEP) was slated to meet January 6 to fix new dates, CEP President Max Mathurin did not call a meeting to vote, instead the members met informally in small groups. The members insisted they needed a technical analysis of the feasibility of February 7 and that February 15 would be a better date. CEP General Director Jacques Bernard said CEP dithering resulted from a nationalistic reaction against the UN and OAS for what the CEP perceived as an attempt by the international community to dictate the CEP decision. (Note: The IGOH was the first to propose February 7 as a possible date for the first round. End Note) Bernard and Charge Griffiths lobbied CEP president Mathurin and several CEP members January 6 and encouraged them to expeditiously choose February 7 for the first round. ¶3. The PM hosted a meeting January 7 with the cabinet, international community and CEP to discuss ID Card distribution, voting centers, elections security, and election dates. According to the PM, throughout the meeting, the ministers of culture, environment, agriculture and health disrupted the conversation and attacked the electoral process, seeking further delay. (Note: The PM said he expects the ministers of culture, environment and agriculture to resign in the coming week. End Note.) However, because the new election dates will be legalized by executive order, which only the President, PM and Minister of the Interior must sign, the PM ended the meeting before the assembled group could discuss election dates, preventing any debate on the new dates. ¶4. The CEP met later January 7 and recommended that the first round be held February 7. CEP members Patrick Fequiere and Louis Gerson Richeme did not attend the meeting, but the remaining members voted four - three to hold the first round February 7, the second round March 12, inaugurate a new president March 29, and hold local elections April 30. (Note: The PM said he would accept CEP member Fequiere's resignation should he submit it in protest. End Note.) Rosemond Pradel and Pauris Jean-Baptiste argued for later dates, purportedly because of close ties to the political parties FUSION and OPL. Polling indicates that neither is faring well in the presidential race. According to the PM, the executive order establishing the new dates has already been signed and will be published in the government newspaper, the Moniteur January 12. ¶5. Comment: Presidential candidate Preval's consistent lead in the polls has not galvanized his opposition to seek coalitions, but it has apparently caused some members of the CEP and cabinet to ally to delay elections. CEP member Patrick Fequiere has withdrawn from planning and has sent CEP president Mathurin a series of documents protesting various aspects of election preparations. We should prepare for both Fequiere and losers in the presidential race to criticize the PORT AU PR 00000045 002 OF 002 electoral process after the election. Both will likely use any means available to taint the results. End Comment. CARNEY