Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08COTONOU354
2008-06-25 15:58:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Cotonou
Cable title:
PRESIDENT YAYI ON MUNICIPAL ELECTION RESULTS
how-toVZCZCXRO2951 RR RUEHMA RUEHPA DE RUEHCO #0354 1771558 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 251558Z JUN 08 FM AMEMBASSY COTONOU TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0386 RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE
UNCLAS COTONOU 000354
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR AF/W DANA BANKS
LONDON FOR PETER LORD
E.O.12958:N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL BN
SUBJECT: PRESIDENT YAYI ON MUNICIPAL ELECTION RESULTS
REF: COTONOU 313 AND PREVIOUS
UNCLAS COTONOU 000354
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR AF/W DANA BANKS
LONDON FOR PETER LORD
E.O.12958:N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL BN
SUBJECT: PRESIDENT YAYI ON MUNICIPAL ELECTION RESULTS
REF: COTONOU 313 AND PREVIOUS
1. (SBU) During a meeting with heads of donor missions on June 24,
2008, President Yayi gave his first public statement about the
results of Benin's April 20 local and municipal elections. He
stated that some of the results announced by the National
Independent Electoral Commission (CENA) do not reflect the actual
votes cast.
2. President Yayi explained that CENA results in some communes did
not tally with figures on the vote count sheets collected by
candidates or party representatives at the polling stations on the
day of the elections. He accused the CENA of changing the results
in some communes. Although President Yayi did not mention his own
coalition of parties, the Cowrie Forces for an Emerging Benin (FCBE)
as the victim of these allegedly rigged results, his supporters have
repeatedly taken to the streets to prevent the installation of the
municipal councils in the communes with disputed results.
3. (SBU) President Yayi stated that the law governing municipal
elections does not provide for dispute settlement in the event that
newly elected municipal council persons fail to be seated. There
are currently 22 (of 77) municipal councils that have not been
installed. President Yayi assured the diplomats that his government
would take all necessary measures to enforce Supreme Court rulings
on the disputed municipal council seats.
BROWN
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR AF/W DANA BANKS
LONDON FOR PETER LORD
E.O.12958:N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL BN
SUBJECT: PRESIDENT YAYI ON MUNICIPAL ELECTION RESULTS
REF: COTONOU 313 AND PREVIOUS
1. (SBU) During a meeting with heads of donor missions on June 24,
2008, President Yayi gave his first public statement about the
results of Benin's April 20 local and municipal elections. He
stated that some of the results announced by the National
Independent Electoral Commission (CENA) do not reflect the actual
votes cast.
2. President Yayi explained that CENA results in some communes did
not tally with figures on the vote count sheets collected by
candidates or party representatives at the polling stations on the
day of the elections. He accused the CENA of changing the results
in some communes. Although President Yayi did not mention his own
coalition of parties, the Cowrie Forces for an Emerging Benin (FCBE)
as the victim of these allegedly rigged results, his supporters have
repeatedly taken to the streets to prevent the installation of the
municipal councils in the communes with disputed results.
3. (SBU) President Yayi stated that the law governing municipal
elections does not provide for dispute settlement in the event that
newly elected municipal council persons fail to be seated. There
are currently 22 (of 77) municipal councils that have not been
installed. President Yayi assured the diplomats that his government
would take all necessary measures to enforce Supreme Court rulings
on the disputed municipal council seats.
BROWN