Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07LUANDA1269
2007-12-20 18:14:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Luanda
Cable title:  

PRESSURE ON CNE AS ELECTORAL BALL DROPS IN ITS

Tags:  PGOV PHUM PREL AO 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO6925
PP RUEHDU RUEHMR RUEHRN
DE RUEHLU #1269/01 3541814
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 201814Z DEC 07
FM AMEMBASSY LUANDA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 4500
INFO RUCNSAD/SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 LUANDA 001269 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

NSC FOR PITTMAN/LEO

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/19/2017
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREL AO
SUBJECT: PRESSURE ON CNE AS ELECTORAL BALL DROPS IN ITS
COURT

REF: LUANDA 1254

Classified By: AMB DAN MOZENA FOR REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D)

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 LUANDA 001269

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

NSC FOR PITTMAN/LEO

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/19/2017
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREL AO
SUBJECT: PRESSURE ON CNE AS ELECTORAL BALL DROPS IN ITS
COURT

REF: LUANDA 1254

Classified By: AMB DAN MOZENA FOR REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D)


1. (U) SUMMARY: The GRA continued to set the stage for
legislative elections in 2008 in a series of high-level
meetings this week. At an extraordinary session of the GRA's
senior consultative body, the Council of the Republic, on
December 17th, the President dos Santos clarified the
National Electoral Commission's (CNE) leading role in
conducting elections, promised the availability of government
resources, and said he would call elections after receiving
the CNE's report certifying the electoral registration
process and the CNE's preparedness to conduct elections. The
Council also discussed holding municipal elections after
presidential elections, squashing speculation that
preparation for local elections could delay the legislative
or presidential vote. In a December 19th meeting, Angola's
Council of Ministers (Cabinet) discussed the supplementary
voter registration period, tentatively scheduled between
April and May 2008. The CNE's request to IFES for assistance
in developing a viable and credible electoral process is now
more urgent. END SUMMARY

Legislative Elections: Full Speed Ahead
--------------

2. (U) In his December 17th speech opening the Council of the
Republic, a consultative body
comprised of key government figures, opposition leaders, and
presidential nominees, President dos Santos announced that
the government has "almost completed" its role in the
electoral process - registering voters - and listed some of
the tasks that now fall to the quasi-independent CNE, such as
designing and preparing ballots and materials for setting up
voting stations and planning the logistics behind securing,
transporting and counting ballots. The President clarified
that the government's civilian and military resources will be
available for the CNE to use and direct as necessary to
conduct the legislative elections. The Council also
discussed the gradual implementation of local elections,
confirming for the first time they would only take place only
after presidential elections, currently slated for 2009.



3. (U) The Council called for the CNE to deliver quickly its
report certifying the voter registration process and its
readiness to conduct elections, a report that by law must be
received before the President can call the elections. A CNE
spokesman pointed out it is waiting for CIPE, the
inter-ministerial commission that conducted voter
registration, to submit the final voter registration books
before the CNE can certify their compliance with electoral
laws.


4. (U) Following the Council of Ministers meeting on December
19, acting CIPE coordinator Edeltrudes Costa stated the CIPE
was almost ready to hand over the books (CNE and CIPE had
previously established a year-end deadline for their
delivery). Costa also announced that the Council discussed
scheduling a registration update between April and May 2008,
after the height of the rainy season. As this supplemental
registration is meant to capture voters who will turn 18 by
election day, the date of the elections would need to be
established before this April-May timeframe so registrars
would know which potential voters would be of age on election
day.

The CNE's Hot Potato
--------------

5. (C) As a result of the Council of the Republic meeting,
pressure is now on the CNE to deliver a logistical plan for
elections, something it has thus far been unable to produce.
A USAID-funded IFES analyst recently called the CNE
"shockingly" far behind on its strategic planning process,
noting they haven't yet made basic decisions such as whether
ballots and voter books will be paper, electronic, or a
combination. Such decisions are politically sensitive and
have significant operational repercussions. IFES, calling
these issues "a big mess," stated that January is a key month
for the electoral process as the CNE works to get the process
on track for elections that look most likely for the latter
months of the announced May-September timeframe.


6. (C) CNE President Caetano de Sousa believes the CNE is not
behind the power curve, as he pulled off the '92 elections on
a much shorter timeframe. CNE leaders have engaged in
closed-door meetings since the Council of the Republic
meeting, in an atmosphere described by insiders as "tense."

Next Steps: USG's Role in Electoral Assistance

LUANDA 00001269 002 OF 002


-------------- ---

7. (C) COMMENT: As the dust settles after this most recent
flurry of election-related activity, legislative elections
are still on track for 2008 but there is still a long
logistical road ahead and many key decisions must be taken
quickly by electoral planners to meet the May to September
timeline. The President's statement before the Council of
the Republic places responsibility (and blame in case of
failure) squarely on the CNE. The CNE's request for
USG-funded operational and planning support from IFES
(reftel) is now ever more imperative. This support will be
crucial as the CNE seeks to forge a viable and credible
electoral process. END COMMENT
MOZENA