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