GIZENGA ADDRESSES DRC NATIONAL ASSEMBLY

UNCLAS KINSHASA 000226 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV KDEM KJUS CG SUBJECT: GIZENGA ADDRESSES DRC NATIONAL ASSEMBLY REF: KINSHASA 199 ¶1. (SBU) Summary. DRC Prime Minster-designate Gizenga presented his government's program during a 75-minute address to the National Assembly February 22. He called for a re-foundation of the republic and emphasized justice and good governance as the two essential conditions for achieving this. Gizenga and other ministers will answer deputies' questions regarding the program February 24 and could take their oaths of office the same day. His nationally-televised performance should help establish his place in a government where the chief of state remains a reluctant public presence. End comment. ¶2. (U) Prime Minister-designate Antoine Gizenga presented the 59 members of his government and their five-year program to the DRC National Assembly during a marathon public session lasting well into the evening of February 22. The 81-year old Gizenga addressed the deputies for 75 minutes in the late morning, then listened with his ministers as deputies representing the Assembly's 12 political groupings took the floor until 8 p.m. to issue statements in support or opposition and to pose questions regarding the program's details. The session was televised live throughout the country. ¶3. (U) Gizenga and his ministers are scheduled to provide answers to these questions in a follow-up session February ¶24. The Assembly is then expected to approve the program. The governing coalition holds a majority of the Assembly's 500 seats and no one anticipates a different outcome. Time allowing, the ministers will then take their official oaths of office. ¶4. (U) Much as he had February 16 at the Presidency (reftel),Gizenga in his speech called for a re-foundation of the republic. He pointed to justice and good governance as the two essential conditions to achieving this. To make his point, he echoed one of the most famous quotations of the troubled period that followed independence. "Without justice and good governance, after elections will be the same as before elections." This was an apparent reference to the independence-era Belgian police head's assertion that "After Independence equals Before Independence," which led to mutiny. ¶5. (U) Gizenga was interrupted many times by applause in response to such statements as "no one will be above the law;" "justice should guide all our actions;" "positive as well as negative sanctions should be imposed for any misbehavior;" "communication networks should be developed;" "school and academic years should last nine months and not more or less as has been the case;" "universal primary education should be required;" "the government will fight unemployment;" and "the Democratic Republic of the Congo should not be like a jungle where only tall trees benefit from the rain and the sun ... it must be like a garden where all plants have the same chance of nourishment." ¶6. (U) Reactions varied predictably along party lines. Deputies from parties of the governing coalition praised the program for its continuity, particularly with the previously-agreed poverty reduction strategy. Opposition deputies criticized it for its lack of ambition and specificity. Statements by Kiakwama kia Kizidi of the opposition Christian Democrats were fairly typical: "There is nothing to expect from this program because the prime minister did not present anything concrete that will end the misery of the Congolese people." Kiakwama said he expected Gizenga to say "how long it will take to bring security to the country, or to know the number of FARDC troops." ¶7. (U) The audience was full of supporters of government deputies, including singers, groups in traditional dress, sympathizers and others brought in to applaud their statements. ¶8. (SBU) Comment. This was Gizenga's first extended public statement since being nominated as prime minister. Several procedural motions by opposition deputies early in the session appeared aimed at throwing off his presentation, but failed to unsettle him. Gizenga looked serene throughout. His performance helps establish Gizenga as the recognized head of government, although it remains to be seen how power relationships will in fact work in the new DRC government structure. End comment. MEECE