CONSTITUTIONAL COURT CONCEDES FRAUD BUT VALIDATES

UNCLAS BAMAKO 000878 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV ML SUBJECT: CONSTITUTIONAL COURT CONCEDES FRAUD BUT VALIDATES MOST LEGISLATIVE BALLOTING RESULTS REF: BAMAKO 806 ¶1. The Malian Constitutional Court announced the final decisions for the July National Assembly Elections (reftel), overturning some results in Koulikiro, Timbuktu, and Goundam. The changes did not significantly alter the overall results that left ADEMA and the URD with the lion's share of the 147 seats. With the exception of RPM, PARENA. and SADI, all the listed parties and nearly all independents are openly allied with President Amadou Toumani Toure (ATT),likely giving the President considerable latitude regardless of how the legislature organizes itself. ¶2. Official Totals: ADEMA: 51 URD: 35 RPM (opposition): 11 MPR: 8 CNID: 7 SADI: 4 PARENA: 4 UDD: 3 MIRIA: 2 BARICA: 2 PSP: 2 RND: 1 BDIA 1 PCR: 1 US-RDA: 1 Independents: 14 Total: 147 ¶3. Of the over 250 complaints filed, only 40 met the criteria for judicial review, and following the review only five seats changed hands. Court President Salif Kanoute commented that the election process was flawed and the court had insufficient time to evaluate fully all the accusations brought before it, but he leveled criticism as well at poll workers, the National Electoral Commission, and party representatives for failing to speak out or take direct action in cases where fraud may have occurred. ¶4. The Assembly will meet in a special session September 3 to elect the National Assembly President (see reftel for possible candidates),8 Vice-Presidents, and committee leadership roles. The old Assembly has been officially dissolved, with the current National Assembly President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita representing the institution until his replacement is selected. The first regular session of the Assembly is scheduled to start October 1. Leonard