LEBANON: ELECTORAL REFORM NEEDED NOW, POLITICIANS

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 BEIRUT 000889 SIPDIS DEPT FOR DRL/FO, NEA/FO, NEA/ELA, NEA/PI NSC FOR ABRAMS/SINGH/YERGER/GAVITO E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EAID KDEM LE PGOV PHUM SUBJECT: LEBANON: ELECTORAL REFORM NEEDED NOW, POLITICIANS AND CIVIL SOCIETY SAY SUMMARY -------------- ¶1. (U) Lebanese politicians and civil society representatives came together for the first time to discuss their support for electoral reform in Lebanon at a June 11 conference cosponsored by the GOL and UNDP. Caretaker Justice Minister Charles Rizk read remarks from President Michel Sleiman, in which Sleiman called for a number of key reforms to be voted on and adopted by parliament. Most participants agreed that work needed to begin immediately if the reforms were to be launched before the spring 2009 parliamentary elections. Given the short lead time, however, expectations are low that an independent electoral commission would be in place within the next 12 months. Many attendees also felt that the Doha Agreement had a negative impact on the prospects for proposed reforms such as a female candidacy quota, extending the right to vote to include Lebanese emigrants, and improving access for those with disabilities before next year's planned election. End Summary. ¶2. (U) The Charge, accompanied by Poloff and Polstaff, attended the June 11 National Conference on Electoral Reform hosted by the UN Development Program, the Civil Campaign for Electoral Reform, and the GOL's National Commission on the Electoral Law (NCEL). The event, held at the Phoenicia Hotel, was informative and attended by a number of Lebanese parliamentarians, caretaker cabinet, and civil society representatives. PRESIDENT SUPPORTS ELECTORAL REFORM -------------- ¶3. (U) Caretaker Justice Minister Charles Rizk opened the conference by reading a speech from President Michel Sleiman. (Note: Rizk noted to CDA that although he had penned the address, Sleiman had approved "every word." End Note.) Rizk's speech affirmed many of the same themes outlined in Sleiman's May 25 inaugural speech, in which the President had called for the adoption of an electoral law that "provides a sound basis for representation, strengthens the relationship between voter and representative, and ensures the achievement of the people's choices and expectations." ¶4. (U) In the June 11 address, Rizk called for "electoral reforms that would ultimately help to secure the election of a political majority that is able to rule and is confronted ;by an elected minority in accordance with what is adopted in all the democratic countries, and the representation of all religious sects according to a distribution that is specified in advance by law." Rizk,s speech praised the work of the National Commission on Electoral Law (which developed most of the reforms outlined in the draft electoral law submitted to the GOL before the July 2006 war) and he affirmed his support for the reforms. Most notable among the proposed reforms is allowing Lebanese residing abroad to participate in the election process, setting a minimum quota for participation by women in party lists of candidates, controlling campaign expenditures, forming an independent body to supervise the election operation, and lowering the voting age to 18. NECESSITIES FOR SUCCESSFUL 2009 ELECTIONS -------------- ¶5. (U) Dr. Ziyad Baroud, a member of the NCEL, said that the reforms outlined by Rizk and proposed by the NCEL would need to be adopted now so that preparations could begin for the 2009 parliamentary elections. Most importantly, this includes the establishment of an Independent Electoral Commission that would prepare for the election cycle and would be charged with preparing for, administering, and supervising parliamentary elections. Baroud argued that even without the establishment of the independent commission (which some politicians argue can only be established through a constitutional amendment),the GOL still needs to begin preparing for next year's elections immediately. ¶6. (U) He said the selection process for election monitors from the civil society community should begin as soon as BEIRUT 00000889 002 OF 003 possible, as well as the selection and training of polling station workers. A pre-printed ballot with the names and photos of candidates is another of the commission's suggestions. Each candidate and campaign should have equal access to the media and the electoral process should take place on one day, as opposed to the two to three week period in which elections typically occur (Note: Each district typically schedules elections on different Sundays over a two-three week period. End Note.) ¶7. (U) Automation of electoral machines and transparency in polling stations are also a must, according to Baroud. He added that parliament has to vote on all of these reforms, and that it will also have to provide a budget to be used for training and purchasing new equipment to be used at polling stations. DOHA AGREEMENT CHALLENGES ELECTORAL REFORM -------------- ¶8. (U) Antoine Haddad, a member of the Democratic Renewal Movement (part of the pro-government March 14 bloc),noted in his address that because the Doha Agreement specified the adoption of the small-district system, the issue of redistricting for this election has effectively been killed. (Note: One of the NCEL's primary goals was to redistrict Lebanon based on a system whereby 77 of the 128 parliamentary seats would be selected through the small district system, or "qada," and the 51 remaining seats would be chosen by way of the large district-proportional system, or "muhafazt." End Note.) Therefore, in a district with a majority Shia population, the voters would most likely be voting for March 8-Aoun bloc candidates, and in predominantly Sunni qadas, voters would most likely be voting for March 14 candidates, Haddad believed. ¶9. (U) The competition will be greatest in predominantly Christian areas (and some Druze areas as well) where the electorate may be equally split between those who support either March 14 candidates or candidates of the March 8-Aoun opposition, Haddad explained. He argued that it is these districts that will decide the outcome of the upcoming parliamentary elections. Therefore, the reforms, if adopted, may only have an impact in improving the voting process in these areas. HIZBALLAH SAYS IT,S TOO LATE FOR ELECTORAL REFORM -------------- - ¶10. (U) Dr. Ali Fayyad, President of the Consultation Center for Studies and Documentation (and a member of Hizballah,s Central Council),said the issue of electoral reform should be taken up after the 2009 parliamentary elections occur. Fayyad argued that the Doha Agreement made it impossible to enact a number of the keys reforms. Only after the current political crises ends would there be an opportunity for real electoral reform, he argued. ¶11. (U) Fayyad criticized the current proposals for the establishment of the Independent Electoral Commission, saying that the proposed ten-person staff, comprised of only one full-time director, would not be enough and that a much larger staff is needed. He also believed that a constitutional amendment would be needed for the independent commission,s creation. Fayyad said that civil society organizations have a right to monitor elections and re-check election results but the NCEL did not define the justifications that such organizations would need to make in order to review the results. As it relates to the issue of media regulations, Fayyad said the draft law proposed by the NCEL only deals with electronic media, but that print media is exempt from the regulations. WOMEN'S QUOTA ALSO HURT BY DOHA AGREEMENT -------------- ¶12. (U) One of the original reforms espoused by the NCEL was a requirement that there by a 30 percent female quota for all BEIRUT 00000889 003 OF 003 party lists. (Note: Lists are part of the proportional system. End Note.) Since the proportional system was not included in the Doha Agreement, it will be difficult for female politicians to run for direct election under the qada framework, according to Dr. Arda Ekmekji, a NCEL member (and only woman to sit on the 12 person commission). Women in the audience also argued that female politicians would not have the same means to finance their individual campaigns against better financed male competitors. ¶13. (U) Dr. Fahmiah Charafeddine, vice-president for the Committee on Women's Issues, also argued that there need to be female election monitors and polling station workers to check IDs and faces of veiled female voters for transparency. The women in the audience also pointed out that no women participated in the Doha talks and argued the Doha Agreement did not take female voters into consideration. EXPANDING PARTICIPATION IS KEY -------------- ¶14. (U) Ms. Guitta Hourani, Director of the Notre Dame University's Lebanese Emigration Research Center, noted that Lebanese emigrants also need to be allowed to participate in next year's election. Lebanese emigrants help to increase trade and investment in Lebanon, and have provided over $6 billion dollars in remittances, according to Hourani. She noted that this $6 billion is taxed by the GOL when it enters Lebanon; therefore, if Lebanese emigrants are being taxed by the GOL from abroad they should be allowed to vote while abroad. ¶15. (U) Expanding the electorate to include Lebanese emigrants will also require funding by parliament in order to give Lebanese emigrants the tools to vote from abroad. Expanding participation is the most important aspect, Hourani argued. The independent commission, if established, or the Ministry ofInterior, should work with the Ministry of Forein Affairs to have Lebanese consulates and embassies abroad facilitate voting for emigrants. ¶16. (U) Ms. Sylvana Lakkis, President of the Handicapped Association, argued that many people are unable to participate due to the inability to gain access to polling stations, the majority of which are not handicapped-accessible. In addition, many elderly Lebanese voters are unable to acquire transportation to polling stations. COMMENT -------------- ¶17. (U) The conference identified a number of key reforms that are in theory supported by key players, including Lebanon's President, parliamentarians, and civil society. However, the GOL will have to begin now if it wants to have a real opportunity to improve the electoral process in time for next year's parliamentary elections. Given the fact that political leaders are still focused on the formation of a national unity cabinet and all parties will be seeking to gain advantages for the 2009 elections, it will not be easy to promote all of the reforms cited in the conference. End Comment. SISON