Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08NOUAKCHOTT332
2008-06-30 17:45:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Nouakchott
Cable title:
MAURITANIAN DEPUTIES VOTE TO INTRODUCE MOTION OF
how-toP 301745Z JUN 08 FM AMEMBASSY NOUAKCHOTT TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 7373 INFO ECOWAS COLLECTIVE MAGHREB COLLECTIVE AMEMBASSY LONDON AMEMBASSY PARIS AMEMBASSY TEL AVIV CDR USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE HQ USAFRICOM STUTTGART GE
UNCLAS NOUAKCHOTT 000332
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL KMCA MR
SUBJECT: MAURITANIAN DEPUTIES VOTE TO INTRODUCE MOTION OF
CENSURE AGAINST THE GOVERNMENT
REF: NOUAKCHOTT 323
UNCLAS NOUAKCHOTT 000332
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL KMCA MR
SUBJECT: MAURITANIAN DEPUTIES VOTE TO INTRODUCE MOTION OF
CENSURE AGAINST THE GOVERNMENT
REF: NOUAKCHOTT 323
1. (U) On 30 June 2008, 39 deputies in the Mauritanian
Parliament signed a bill to introduce a motion of censure
against the government of Prime Minister Waghef. 29
signatories to the bill were from the majority National Pact
for Democracy and Development (PNDD-ADIL) party. According
to article 74 of the Mauritanian Constitution, the bill can
only be presented to the full Parliament for a vote only
after 48 hours have elapsed. If a simple majority of the 95
deputies vote in favor of the motion, the current government
is obligated to resign. The President of the Republic must
then appoint a new Prime Minister.
2. (SBU) COMMENT: Post believes that there is enough
support among the Parliamentary deputies to carry the motion
of censure and that the Government will be forced to resign
if President Abdallahi does not intervene. The vote cannot
legally proceed until after the President returns from the
African Union Summit in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt on 1 July
2008. Being out of town, Abdallahi has little opportunity to
negotiate a political deal short of the fall of the Waghef
Government -- for instance replacing the 5-6 ministers of
greatest concern. He has the authority to dissolve the
National Assembly prior to the vote, but that would spark new
legislative elections that would very likely result in an
opposition majority. END COMMENT.
Hankins
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL KMCA MR
SUBJECT: MAURITANIAN DEPUTIES VOTE TO INTRODUCE MOTION OF
CENSURE AGAINST THE GOVERNMENT
REF: NOUAKCHOTT 323
1. (U) On 30 June 2008, 39 deputies in the Mauritanian
Parliament signed a bill to introduce a motion of censure
against the government of Prime Minister Waghef. 29
signatories to the bill were from the majority National Pact
for Democracy and Development (PNDD-ADIL) party. According
to article 74 of the Mauritanian Constitution, the bill can
only be presented to the full Parliament for a vote only
after 48 hours have elapsed. If a simple majority of the 95
deputies vote in favor of the motion, the current government
is obligated to resign. The President of the Republic must
then appoint a new Prime Minister.
2. (SBU) COMMENT: Post believes that there is enough
support among the Parliamentary deputies to carry the motion
of censure and that the Government will be forced to resign
if President Abdallahi does not intervene. The vote cannot
legally proceed until after the President returns from the
African Union Summit in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt on 1 July
2008. Being out of town, Abdallahi has little opportunity to
negotiate a political deal short of the fall of the Waghef
Government -- for instance replacing the 5-6 ministers of
greatest concern. He has the authority to dissolve the
National Assembly prior to the vote, but that would spark new
legislative elections that would very likely result in an
opposition majority. END COMMENT.
Hankins