Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08ANTANANARIVO236
2008-03-25 11:50:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Antananarivo
Cable title:
TIM SWEEPS MADAGASCAR'S "REGIONAL COUNSELOR" ELECTIONS
how-toVZCZCXRO3721 RR RUEHBZ RUEHDU RUEHJO RUEHMR RUEHRN DE RUEHAN #0236 0851150 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 251150Z MAR 08 FM AMEMBASSY ANTANANARIVO TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 1129 INFO RUCNSAD/SOUTHERN AF DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY COLLECTIVE RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC RUEKDIA/DIA WASHDC RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC RUEHLMC/MILLENNIUM CHALLENGE CORPORATION
UNCLAS ANTANANARIVO 000236
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR AF/E, AF/FO, INR/AA, AND DRL
PARIS FOR AFRICA WATCHER
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL KDEM EAID PHUM PINR MA
SUBJECT: TIM SWEEPS MADAGASCAR'S "REGIONAL COUNSELOR" ELECTIONS
REFTEL: ANTANANARIVO 198
UNCLAS ANTANANARIVO 000236
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR AF/E, AF/FO, INR/AA, AND DRL
PARIS FOR AFRICA WATCHER
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL KDEM EAID PHUM PINR MA
SUBJECT: TIM SWEEPS MADAGASCAR'S "REGIONAL COUNSELOR" ELECTIONS
REFTEL: ANTANANARIVO 198
1. (U) Unofficial results from Madagascar's first-ever elections for
regional counselors on March 16 show the ruling TIM party won almost
all of the 147 seats throughout the country. In a number of
regions, only TIM candidates ran. Results are still being counted,
but the average participation rate was pegged around 44 percent.
This is a fairly impressive national average, given the main themes
surrounding these elections have been voter fatigue and low turnout.
Many citizens complained they did not understand the role of the
new position of regional counselor, and thus did not make the effort
to go to the polls.
2. (U) The Consortium of National Election Observers (CNOE),which
recently benefited from a Department-funded capacity building
program implemented by the National Democratic Institute, deployed
election observers throughout 16 of the country's 22 regions. In a
press conference, CNOE noted elections proceeded calmly, but overall
voter turnout was weak and the allocation of funds throughout the
electoral process was less than transparent. CNOE observers noticed
voter turnout was higher in regions with multiple candidates and
lower in regions with only TIM candidates. Some fokontany (local)
chiefs in the latter areas reportedly received pressure from
government-appointed regional chiefs to encourage high voter
turnout; the implicit message was they would be rewarded or punished
accordingly.
3. (SBU) COMMENT: President Ravalomanana publicly tried to
encourage voter participation by noting this first election for
regional counselors "will go down in history." However, we frankly
share the public puzzlement regarding the significance of the
regional counselors, and so far this election seems fairly
unremarkable. END COMMENT.
MARQUARDT
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR AF/E, AF/FO, INR/AA, AND DRL
PARIS FOR AFRICA WATCHER
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL KDEM EAID PHUM PINR MA
SUBJECT: TIM SWEEPS MADAGASCAR'S "REGIONAL COUNSELOR" ELECTIONS
REFTEL: ANTANANARIVO 198
1. (U) Unofficial results from Madagascar's first-ever elections for
regional counselors on March 16 show the ruling TIM party won almost
all of the 147 seats throughout the country. In a number of
regions, only TIM candidates ran. Results are still being counted,
but the average participation rate was pegged around 44 percent.
This is a fairly impressive national average, given the main themes
surrounding these elections have been voter fatigue and low turnout.
Many citizens complained they did not understand the role of the
new position of regional counselor, and thus did not make the effort
to go to the polls.
2. (U) The Consortium of National Election Observers (CNOE),which
recently benefited from a Department-funded capacity building
program implemented by the National Democratic Institute, deployed
election observers throughout 16 of the country's 22 regions. In a
press conference, CNOE noted elections proceeded calmly, but overall
voter turnout was weak and the allocation of funds throughout the
electoral process was less than transparent. CNOE observers noticed
voter turnout was higher in regions with multiple candidates and
lower in regions with only TIM candidates. Some fokontany (local)
chiefs in the latter areas reportedly received pressure from
government-appointed regional chiefs to encourage high voter
turnout; the implicit message was they would be rewarded or punished
accordingly.
3. (SBU) COMMENT: President Ravalomanana publicly tried to
encourage voter participation by noting this first election for
regional counselors "will go down in history." However, we frankly
share the public puzzlement regarding the significance of the
regional counselors, and so far this election seems fairly
unremarkable. END COMMENT.
MARQUARDT