NO CONFIDENCE VOTE AGAINST KAMERHE SCHEDULED

C O N F I D E N T I A L KINSHASA 000259 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/20/2019 TAGS: KDEM PGOV PHUM PREL CG SUBJECT: NO CONFIDENCE VOTE AGAINST KAMERHE SCHEDULED Classified By: Ambassador William J. Garvelink for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) We spoke March 19 with Lydie Omanga, Communications Director for National Assembly President Vital Kamerhe. She explained the "Conference of Chairmen" of the National Assembly met March 19 to set the "ordre du jour" or legislative agenda for the first plenary session to take place March 24 or March 25. In addition to a vote on Kamerhe, other agenda items include questioning of the Prime Minister on the security situation in eastern DRC and the establishment of the legislative calendar. Two-thirds of the full membership must be present in the plenary to open discussion of a no confidence vote against Kamerhe. If the vote carries, Kamerhe would presumably resign before a vote of no-confidence is held. ¶2. (C) Omanga requested embassy assistance in translating into English Kamerhe's March 16 speech opening the new session of parliament. We turned town the request to avoid appearances of partisianship or interference in internal affairs. ¶3. (C) Comment: The National Assembly's adherence to procedures as stipulated in the 2006 Constitution and parliamentary by-laws is encouraging. The unfolding of proceedings in a public forum, with widespread media coverage, will allow the public to monitor the debate on Kamerhe. We are hopeful the social tensions over the Kamerhe-Kabila rift will diminish as the perception grows that elected representatives are dealing with citizen's concerns as prescribed in the constitution. We have been in close contact with international interlocutors (including ambassadors of major European nations and the head of MONUC) as well as high-ranking members of the GDRC's Executive and Legislative branches, and will continue to monitor the National Assembly's deliberations. It is the concensus of ambassadors and MONUC that the National Assembly's debate on Kamerhe is a positive development, fostering a denouement consistent with the Constitution and also strengthening the Assembly as an institution. It is too soon at this point to predict the consequences of Kamerhe's departure from the National Assembly -- choosing a successor could take weeks -- but the Constitution provides for an interim succession when there is no president. End Comment. GARVELINK