PREVAL TAKES ANTI-GLOBALIZATION STANCE

UNCLAS PORT AU PRINCE 000753 SENSITIVE SIPDIS STATE FOR WHA/CAR, DRL, S/CRS, INR/IAA SOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD STATE PAS AID FOR LAC/CAR TREASURY FOR MAUREEN WAFER E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV ECON KTRD HA SUBJECT: PREVAL TAKES ANTI-GLOBALIZATION STANCE ¶1. (SBU) Summary: President Preval used his speech on Haiti's Flag Day May 18 to depict Haiti's economic reform efforts as a national struggle for economic independence against the forces of globalization. He summoned all Haitians to unite and support a ''unity government'' to achieve this independence, just as their ancestors two centuries ago had united to throw off slavery. This was the first time, at least recently, that Preval cast his country's economic efforts in such starkly nationalist, anti-globalization terms. Post doubts this new political tack heralds a confrontational stance with international financial institutions, a departure from Haiti's policies of macroeconomic stabilization, or a xenophobic turn in Preval's outlook. The President used the anti-globalization theme not to flay foreigners but to rally Haitians to unite and sacrifice as the country struggles to get back on its feet economically and politically. End summary. ¶2. (U) In his May 18 speech at the National Palace, President Preval said that, in contrast to Flag Day a year ago, a ''political cloud'' hung over the ceremony this year. Referring to the recent fall of the government, he thanked outgoing Prime Minister Jacques Edouard Alexis for his role in achieving the stability Haiti had enjoyed over the previous two years. He thanked former Prime Minister-designate Ericq Pierre for sacrificing his previous job and returning to Haiti to serve his country. ¶3. (U) Preval then depicted Haiti's efforts to stimulate domestic agricultural production -- which political discourse in Haiti now universally refers to as ''national production'' -- as a new version of Haiti's struggle for independence two centuries ago. He said that Haiti now is engaged in a ''war'' to revive domestic production, and to build roads, hospitals and schools. Noting that food inflation had hit Haiti due to changes in world markets, Preval directly linked the high cost of living in Haiti to globalization in general. Preval declared that for Haiti, globalization meant dependency. The country's battle against the high cost of living was a battle for ''national production'' and economic independence. ''Our ancestors'' had taken up arms to throw off the dependency of colonialism and slavery, and had made every necessary sacrifice to achieve independence. Haiti's effort to achieve economic independence today was the same kind of battle. ¶4. (U) Preval concluded by highlighting his signature theme of stability as the pre-condition for Haiti's development. He asked Haitians to unite in the battle for ''national production,'' and summoned all ''political partners'' to help him build a ''government of unity.'' ¶5. ( SBU) Comment: The President's heavily nationalist, anti-globalization theme was a new turn in his political rhetoric, but so far it is just rhetoric. He used the harsh effects of rising global food commodity prices not to demonize foreign economic influence but to urge Haitians to unite politically and put themselves to the task of reviving the domestic economy. Nevertheless, the anti-globalization message will be a theme to watch. TIGHE