SLOW PROGRESS TOWARD NEW PROVISIONAL ELECTORAL

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 02 OF 02 PORT AU PRINCE 001853 SIPDIS STATE FOR WHA/CAR, DRL, S/CRS, INR/IAA (BEN-YEHUDA) SOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD STATE PAS AID FOR LAC/CAR TREASURY FOR MAUREEN WAFER E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/21/2017 TAGS: PGOV HA SUBJECT: SLOW PROGRESS TOWARD NEW PROVISIONAL ELECTORAL COMMISSION, SENATE ELECTIONS *********************** * Missing Section 001 * *********************** PORT AU PR 00001853 002.6 OF 002 would then act quickly to choose nine counselors and the Director General of the Provisional CEP. The process could be completed in a matter of days or at most within a week. ¶4. (SBU) Longchamp explained that three of the nine sectors asked to submit CEP nominations had changed. In putting together the Provisional CEP in 2001, human rights groups, political representatives of the ''non-aligned'' group (who distinguished themselves from both Aristide and the ''Group of 184'' that opposed Aristide and supported a return to democracy),as well as Aristide's party Fanmi Lavalas had submitted nominations. This year, the President decided to replace these with representatives of women's groups, trade unions, and the handicapped, the last being a cause the President supports. (Note: The previous representation of Fanmi Lavalas was probably the precedent behind Lespwa's demand voiced publicly November 19 that Lespwa have its own representative on the CEP. Another factor is that Lespwa, being a coalition rather than a political party, is not represented in either of the two political party groupings that the President called on to supply nominations for the CEP. End note.) Senate Elections -------------- ¶5. (C) Longchamp would not hazard a guess as to possible dates for elections to renew one-third of the Senate. He realized, however, that these elections would not be held soon enough to seat the new Senators at the opening session of the next National Assembly on January 14. When asked how this situation could be handled so as not to let a gap arise in the Senate that could render that body inoperable, Longchamp offered two options: provisionally extend the terms of the 10 Senators currently up for re-election; or run the Senate with 19 (instead of 30) members for the short interim period. (Note: Ten Senators are up for re-election, and one seat was left vacant by the death of a Senator. End note.) Comment: We're Still Doing This Ad Hoc -------------- ¶6. (C) Haiti's elections are still operating in part on a provisional legal basis. The indirect elections, which culminate in the selection of a Permanent CEP, have not been held. Lacking a Permanent CEP -- procedures for selection of which are defined in the Constitution -- Haiti continues to make do with a series of Provisional CEPs. This upcoming reformed Provisional CEP is being constructed according to temporary provisions in the 1987 constitution that have been modified several times by various governments, in this most recent iteration by President Preval. We expect but are by no means certain that a Presidential decision naming a new Provisional CEP will come soon, perhaps within a week. If that occurs, elections for one-third of the Senate will be held during the first three months of 2008 at the earliest. SRSG Anabi told the Ambassador mid-November that MINUSTAH could help the GOH organize these elections by March ¶2008. Inaction by the President on announcing these elections, exacerbated by machinations within the current Provisional CEP, brought on this delay. SANDERSON