LEBANON: INTERIOR MINISTER SAYS LACK OF TIME

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 BEIRUT 001339

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR NEA/FO, NEA/ELA, NEA/PI AND DRL/FO
ALSO FOR AID/ME BEVER/LAUDATO/SCOTT
NSC FOR ABRAMS/RAMCHAND/YERGER/MCDERMOTT
DEPT PLEASE PASS TO USAID

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/10/2018
TAGS: PREL PGOV PINR NAS LE
SUBJECT: LEBANON: INTERIOR MINISTER SAYS LACK OF TIME
HINDERS ELECTION REFORM

REF: BEIRUT 1327

Classified By: Ambassador Michele J. Sison for reason 1.4
(b) and (d)

SUMMARY
--------------


1. (C) Implementation of proposed election administration
reforms will be difficult prior to the spring 2009
Parliamentary elections, according to Minister of Interior
Ziyad Baroud, who is responsible for organizing the
elections. Recognizing the value of the Boutros draft
election reform proposals, Baroud regretted that there was
insufficient time and resources to institute many of them.
He stated that Lebanon will proceed with plans to adopt and
implement a range of reforms in the hope they will all be in
place in time for the municipal elections of 2010. He does
not advocate delaying the date of the 2009 parliamentary
elections to be able to implement all the proposed reforms,
and is confident that his Ministry can undertake the
administration of the 2009 elections in a transparent and
effective manner. End summary.

2009 ELECTION TO BE HELD
IN APRIL 20-JUNE 20 TIMEFRAME
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2. (C) In a September 10 meeting with the Ambassador, USAID
Senior Deputy Assistant Administrator for the Middle East
James Bever and embassy INL Director, Lebanese Minister of
Interior and Municipalities Ziyad Baroud discussed Lebanon's
plans on implementing proposed changes in election
administration reforms. Elections in Lebanon are
administered by the Ministry of Interior. The Boutros draft
law on election reform proposes that the responsibility for
the administration of elections should be transferred to a
newly established Independent Election Commission. The new
draft election law should be submitted to Parliament by
September 25 but will not be voted on by Parliament before
the second week of October, according to Baroud. Baroud
stressed that his office is meeting three times a week to
discuss proposals that can be fully implemented in the time
remaining before the parliamentary elections. Baroud
confirmed that many of the administration of elections'
reforms proposed in the Boutros Draft Law will be impossible
to implement within the short period of time remaining before
the parliamentary election, scheduled to be held between
April 20 and June 20, 2009.

SUPPORT FOR INDEPENDENT ELECTION COMMISSION,
BUT NO TIME
--------------


3. (C) Baroud, a longtime election reform advocate before
becoming Minister, supports the concept of establishing an
Independent Election Commission (IEC) as proposed in the
Boutros Draft Law, but stated that it is not feasible to do
so at this point, less than nine months from the election.
Baroud cited EU and other NGO reports stating that full
implementation of an IEC would require twelve months. To
create an effective IEC, Lebanon would need to obtain Council
of Ministers' approval, process nominations and appointments
of members, locate premises, train civil servants, and
transfer the official election responsibilities from the MOI
to IEC. It is not possible to have an effective IEC up and
running until October 2009, according to Baroud. If the law
requires an IEC, then elections would have to be delayed
until October 2009, which is something he does not advocate.
He believes the Lebanese Parliament would not support any
delay in elections.


4. (C) The IEC can be operational and should run the 2010
Municipal elections, Baroud said. Baroud noted that outcome
of the 2010 municipal elections can be even more important
for the direction of Lebanese politics, particularly after
the changes that may ensue following the parliamentary
elections.

DONATIONS TO SUPPORT IMPLEMENTATION OF ELECTION LAW )
TRANSPARENT, EFFECTIVE, NON-DUPLICATION
AND NO CASH, PLEASE
-------------- --------------

BEIRUT 00001339 002 OF 003




5. (C) From September 25 through the end of October the MOI
will schedule meetings with potential donors interested in
supporting the changes proposed under the draft election law.
Baroud is currently in the process of developing his "Master
Plan" for donors, which will be the guiding document
coordinating donor contributions. The MOI, through the
Master Plan, will provide donors with implementation
timelines and will identify specific needs. By developing
these guidelines for the donors, Baroud and the Ministry aims
to 1) be transparent, 2) avoid duplication and 3) have
donations be effective. The donor's guidelines will state,
for example, that this is what Lebanon has, and this is what
Lebanese needs to implement the reforms and hold the
elections. Donors will be asked to provide contributions
solely in accord with this statement of needs.


6. (C) The MOI strongly prefers in-kind donations, not direct
cash donations to the Lebanese government, to achieve
transparency and avoid procurement headaches. The donation
of loaned experts is acceptable, clarified Baroud, as long as
the proffered expert is intimately familiar with the reality
and functioning of Lebanon, and adapts his or her training to
that Lebanese reality. Baroud, for example, said he had no
problem with the International Foundation for Electoral
Systems (IFES) or other organizations providing the expertise
on voting matters, but he stressed that he would like to meet
with them first. That way he can thoroughly explain the best
method for them to assist Lebanon and provide what the MOI
really needs. Baroud welcomes participation by
representatives from the Carter Center, but reminded us that
the visit must be organized through the proper diplomatic
channels (NFI).

SINGLE VOTING DAY NOT FEASIBLE;
TWO DAYS MAY BE
--------------


7. (C) Baroud stressed that the Ministry is trying hard to
meet the people's expectations as to what it should deliver
on election reform, but he is concerned that they may be
heading toward disappointment. Baroud mentioned that no MP
will ever say that he or she is against reform. It always
comes down to implementation -- not enough time or money or
manpower. Baroud is sorry to admit that there is not enough
time to institute proposed changes prior to the election.


8. (C) Baroud also confirmed that the proposal to shorten the
number of voting days to one, from four, cannot be
implemented due to the lack of sufficient Internal Security
Forces' personnel to cover all the polling stations and
ballot boxes on the same day (reftel). Now the government is
leaning toward adopting a change for elections to take place
over a two day period.


9. (C) The Minister also cited the delays that ensue from
awaiting Ministerial-level approvals for all reform proposals
(e.g., out-of-country voting) and the release of funding to
implement proposed reforms. The proposal for the Ministry to
issue a national voter ID was almost defeated from the start
due to a lack of funds. The MOI needed $1 million to get the
ID underway, but the government refused to accelerate funds
for the project. Baroud obtained the money by asking the
Internal Security Forces (ISF) Director General to transfer
funds originally designated for ISF security purposes to the
National Voter ID project. Baroud promised him he would pay
back the ISF, which is part of his Ministry.

PROJECTS TO SUPPORT
DECENTRALIZATION OF MUNICIPALITIES
--------------


10. (SBU) USAID Senior Deputy Assistant Administrator James
Beaver asked the Minister how the U.S. could best utilize its
development assistance in the area of local government and
municipal assistance. Baroud, a technical and academic
expert in municipal governance, mentioned that Lebanon had
recently formed a Consultative Commission on
Decentralization, and he would welcome U.S. assistance in
that area. Lebanon would benefit greatly from a national
master plan for municipalities that establishes a
comprehensive approach, and which adopts decentralization as
a goal, particularly with regard to administrative and

BEIRUT 00001339 003 OF 003


financial responsibilities. The hope is that a draft law on
municipalities will be presented in seven months, and to have
the law voted upon by parliament prior to the 2010 municipal
elections.

SISON