Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09MONROVIA209
2009-03-20 11:13:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Monrovia
Cable title:  

LIBERIA: NATIONAL ELECTIONS COMMISSION REVOKES LICENSES OF

Tags:  PGOV PHUM PREL KDEM EAID LI 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO5317
RR RUEHMA RUEHPA
DE RUEHMV #0209 0791113
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 201113Z MAR 09
FM AMEMBASSY MONROVIA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0886
INFO RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE
UNCLAS MONROVIA 000209 

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O.12958: NA
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREL KDEM EAID LI
SUBJECT: LIBERIA: NATIONAL ELECTIONS COMMISSION REVOKES LICENSES OF
10 POLITICAL PARTIES

UNCLAS MONROVIA 000209

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O.12958: NA
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREL KDEM EAID LI
SUBJECT: LIBERIA: NATIONAL ELECTIONS COMMISSION REVOKES LICENSES OF
10 POLITICAL PARTIES


1. (U) Summary: The National Elections Commission (NEC) has revoked
the licenses of ten political parties for violating the constitution
and election laws of Liberia. The revocation came after persistent
warnings that the parties were not in compliance with the law.
Twenty registered parties remain, but only ten of them are
represented in the Legislature. End Summary.


2. (U) The National Elections Commission (NEC) revoked the licenses
of ten political parties after it determined that they were in
violation of Article 79 (c)(i) of the 1986 Constitution of Liberia
which stipulates that in order for a party to function, it must
maintain headquarters in Monrovia. NEC also said that the parties
have failed to present their financial statements to it in
accordance with Article 82(c) of the Constitution. The NEC filed a
writ of dissolution of the affected parties at the Civil Law Court
at the Temple of Justice in September 2008.


3. (U) The ten parties deregistered by the NEC are: Labor Party of
Liberia, Reformed United Liberia Party, United Democratic Party,
National Party of Liberia, United Democracy Alliance, Independent
Democratic Party, People's Democratic Party of Liberia, Freedom
Alliance Party of Liberia, Liberia Equal Rights Party and the All
Liberia Coalition Party. These parties will not be allowed to take
part in any future political process within the territorial confines
of Liberia. Thirty political parties were registered during the
2005 elections. Twenty-two candidates vied for the Presidency after
the formation of alliances and coalitions. Only ten parties are
represented in the Legislature.


4. (U) Most of the deregistered parties are those whose leaders
reside in the United States. They only returned to Liberia between
2004 and 2005 and since returned after their dismal performances
during the 2005 elections. Most parties in Liberia are centered on
single individuals and are not founded based on any particular
ideology or philosophy. However, these ten parties do not have
offices anywhere in the country, including Monrovia. The NEC
invited the leadership of the affected parties on several occasions
to remedy the situation but they all failed to adhere to persistent
warnings from the NEC, hence the decision to revoke their licenses.
The affected parties are locally referred to as "briefcase" parties.



4. (U) The NEC also warned existing political parties to abide by
the rules governing political parties and vowed to take action
against any party that violates the law. The NEC has also proposed
draft legislation to the legislature which seeks to make the
registration process more thorough in a bid to regulate the
proliferation of political parties in Liberia.


5. (SBU) Comment: Most of Liberia's political parties are formed
for the sole purpose of joining political alliances as a means of
getting "lucrative" positions from the party that wins, as was the
case during the 2005 Presidential elections. These parties usually
wane away after elections are held and members who are lucky to be
included in the elected government usually abandon their parties or
join the ruling party. It is hoped that the draft electoral bill
will limit or reduce the number of registered parties. Even the ten
parties that found sufficient backing for legislative seats are
probably too many. The Embassy plans to continue supporting
political party strengthening as part of our electoral assistance
for the 2011 presidential and legislative elections, and having a
manageable number of parties will help to that end.

THOMAS-GREENFIELD