RISING CONCERN ABOUT DISQUALIFICATION OF OPPOSITION

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 MAPUTO 001009 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/10/2019 TAGS: PGOV PREL MZ SUBJECT: RISING CONCERN ABOUT DISQUALIFICATION OF OPPOSITION REF: MAPUTO 1007 Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Todd C. Chapman, Reasons 1.4(b+d) ¶1. (C) SUMMARY: In a September 10 televised meeting with National Electoral Commission (CNE) President Leopoldo da Costa, representatives from 18 diplomatic missions raised grave concerns over reftel decisions to exclude a number of opposition parties from the October 28 legislative elections. In a two hour meeting described as a "sham" and "pure theater" by multiple ambassadors, da Costa proved at times arrogant, confused, and nervous; sharpening fears in the diplomatic community and civil society that the disqualification was purely partisan. The diplomatic community will jointly release a public statement highlighting concerns about the CNE's decision and the Swedish Ambassador, representing the EU and others, has now asked for a meeting with President Guebuza as soon as possible to emphasize that the CNE decision is a huge step backwards for democracy in Mozambique. END SUMMARY. -------------- CNE PRESIDENT DESCRIBES DISQUALIFICATION... ...IN EXCRUCIATING LEGALISTIC DETAIL -------------- ¶2. (C) The Charge and 17 other Chiefs of Mission from the EU, Norway, Switzerland, and Canada met with National Electoral Commission (CNE) President Leopoldo da Costa in an at times testy two hour meeting covered by every major news agency in Mozambique regarding reftel disqualification of a number of opposition parties from the October 28 legislative elections. An arrogant yet nervous Da Costa gave a presentation designed to convince the diplomatic community that the CNE had followed procedures as defined under the election law, stating that for largely documentary and procedural reasons, the parties were disqualified. Da Costa continued by making public correspondence between Daviz Simango's Democratic Movement of Mozambique (MDM) and CNE, which showed, according to da Costa, that the party had made some procedural errors and attempted to correct them too late in the process. In a presentation that was occasionally fumbling and illogical, da Costa also explained that all of MDM's legislative candidates were disqualified in 9 of the country's 13 constituencies because their number of legislative candidates had fallen below the minimum required. Da Costa commented that some new parties, as well as the ruling FRELIMO and traditional opposition RENAMO parties, were able to qualify candidates in most constituencies. Da Costa closed by contradicting himself in saying that "all parties must follow certain rules, and it would be anarchy to tolerate exceptions." He subsequently explained that during his stewardship of the 2008 Municipal Elections, he allowed some exceptions, and was ordered by the Constitutional Council to be more strict. -------------- DIPLOMATIC COMMUNITY RAISES SERIOUS CONCERNS -------------- ¶3. (C) Swedish Ambassador (and current EU chair) Ake Torvald Akesson spoke on behalf of the diplomatic community, urging the CNE to ensure a free, fair, and transparent electoral process and to rectify perceptions of improper manipulation of the process by the CNE, disadvantaging opposition political parties. Akesson expressed grave concerns, and stated that he hoped for greater transparency. Dutch Ambassador Frans Bijvoet expressed grave doubts regarding the justice of such an electoral system, and confirmed that the diplomatic community had great concerns about the process by which opposition parties were disqualified, even after da Costa's presentation. Norwegian Ambassador Tove Westberg asked what the CNE plans to do to satisfy the doubts of civil society and the diplomatic community regarding the disqualification. Da Costa deflected these challenges, stating that the problem was with the electoral law, and it was simply the task of the CNE to uphold it. Da Costa confirmed that he was meeting with the parties in question individually, and encouraged all opposition parties to appeal the CNE decision to the Constitutional Council (CC) for final arbitration. The Swiss, Italian, Norwegian, and Portuguese Ambassadors also raised serious concerns with da Costa over transparency. -------------- CHARGE RESPONDS TO CNE -------------- ¶4. (C) With domestic media still present, the Charge MAPUTO 00001009 002 OF 002 reiterated other Missions' concerns about the disqualifications, and what the CNE's decision means for a free, fair, and transparent electoral process. The Charge also noted that the diplomatic community was gravely concerned about all opposition parties that had been excluded from the legislative elections, despite da Costa's focus on MDM. The Charge urged the CNE to return to its motto of 'ensuring free, fair, and transparent elections' by responding to civil society's concerns that its decisions were biased, and that they promoted exclusivity in the process, not inclusivity. The Charge subsequently raised his concerns in a lunch meeting with Justice Minister Benvinda Levi, who recommended a cautious and legalistic approach to the CNE decision, but acknowledged the GRM was faced with a difficult situation. -------------- -------------- DIPLOMATS AND CIVIL SOCIETY RESOLVED TO ESCALATE CONCERNS -------------- -------------- ¶5. (C) Following the meeting, British High Commissioner Andrew Soper suggested to the diplomatic community that they meet urgently with President Guebuza to highlight the downsides of the CNE's blatantly partisan decision. Soper confirmed that this decision tarnishes the Guebuza Administration's record and increases the likelihood of election-related violence. Chiefs of Mission present agreed to release Akesson's message as a joint statement in Portuguese as soon as possible, evidence that resolve to fight against this decision is growing in the diplomatic community who realize the severity of the implications of the CNE's decision. All Chiefs of Missions present agreed that da Costa had confirmed their suspicions that the CNE decision was inherently politicized, and some described it as "a sham" and "pure theater." Italian, British, Swedish, and Germany diplomats were visibly agitated by this heavy-handed political maneuver carried out by the CNE. Many in the diplomatic community believe that the CC, a branch of the judiciary replete with FRELIMO faithful, will likely uphold the CNE decision. In response to the CNE decision, the Election Observer Group (OE),a multi-religious civil society organization including the most senior members of the Episcopal Conference (CEM),the Christian Council (CCM),and the Islamic Council of Mozambique (CISLAMO) issued a stern communique on September 10 urging special attention to the electoral process in the country, stating that "peace is more than the absence of violence," and calling for "freedom, transparency, and legitimacy of the electoral process." -------------- -------------- COMMENT: CNE DECISION A STEP BACKWARDS FOR DEMOCRACY -------------- -------------- ¶6. (C) The CNE's politically-motivated decision to disqualify opposition parties, in particular MDM, is a step backwards for democracy in Mozambique. Following the CNE's presentation, it is even more clear that the decision taken was a heavy-handed attempt to ensure an overwhelming FRELIMO majority in the legislature over the next five years. A ruling party insider confirmed to the Charge on September 10 that the CNE's decision followed closely on a FRELIMO Central Committee decision late last week to use draconian methods to ensure a massive win in the October 28 elections. The diplomatic community's strong response to this manipulation of the electoral system by the ruling party is hoped to influence the GRM, President Guebuza, and FRELIMO elites to direct CNE to define a way forward that returns more of the opposition parties, but specifically MDM, to the legislative elections; however, this is still far from certain. In any case further diplomatic and civil society pressure is necessary to pressure the Guebuza administration to reconsider its partisan decision to exclude so many opposition parties, and the Embassy is aggressively pursuing all channels to the GRM to communicate the message that serious damage is being done to Mozambique's democratic credentials. CHAPMAN