Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09PORTAUPRINCE916
2009-10-30 18:04:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Port Au Prince
Cable title:
PRIME MINISTER PIERRE LOUIS OUSTED AFTER
how-toVZCZCXRO5115 OO RUEHQU DE RUEHPU #0916 3031804 ZNR UUUUU ZZH O 301804Z OCT 09 FM AMEMBASSY PORT AU PRINCE TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 0484 INFO RUEHZH/HAITI COLLECTIVE RUEHBR/AMEMBASSY BRASILIA 2407 RUEHMN/AMEMBASSY MONTEVIDEO 0443 RUEHSA/AMEMBASSY PRETORIA 2118 RUEHMT/AMCONSUL MONTREAL 0423 RUEHQU/AMCONSUL QUEBEC 1484 RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHDC RUCOWCV/CCGDSEVEN MIAMI FL RUMIAAA/HQ USSOUTHCOM J2 MIAMI FL
UNCLAS PORT AU PRINCE 000916
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR S, C, WHA/CAR, DRL, S/CRS,
INL FOR KEVIN BROWN, HEATHER WILD AND MEAGAN MCBRIDE
INR/IAA
SOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD
STATE PASS AID FOR LAC/CAR
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL PINR HA
SUBJECT: PRIME MINISTER PIERRE LOUIS OUSTED AFTER
TUMULTUOUS SENATE DEBATE
UNCLAS PORT AU PRINCE 000916
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR S, C, WHA/CAR, DRL, S/CRS,
INL FOR KEVIN BROWN, HEATHER WILD AND MEAGAN MCBRIDE
INR/IAA
SOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD
STATE PASS AID FOR LAC/CAR
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL PINR HA
SUBJECT: PRIME MINISTER PIERRE LOUIS OUSTED AFTER
TUMULTUOUS SENATE DEBATE
1. (SBU) SUMMARY: At midnight on October 29, the Senate
ousted Prime Minister Pierre Louis, who refused to appear at
the interpellation session. 18 Senators out of 29 gave
Pierre Louis a vote of no confidence, after opposition
Senators had left the session in the expectation that a vote
could no longer be held. END SUMMARY.
2. (U) In response to a convocation from the President of the
Senate, Prime Minister Pierre Louis addressed a letter to the
Senate early afternoon on October 29, stating she would not
be appearing in front of the Senate given she felt ''a
decision had already been made'' to remove her. Opposition
senators who had not previously supported Pierre Louis
rallied to oppose the interpellation on procedural grounds,
making the process far more drawn out than many expected.
Opposition senators, including Youri Latortue, Evalliere
Beauplan, Rudy Heriveaux and Andris Riche, attempted to stall
the session. Latortue argued the convocation was illegal
because the Lower Chamber was in recess and that Parliament
was limited to the agenda of its extraordinary session set by
President Preval.
3. (U) The LESPWA majority remained relatively quiet
throughout the debate, instead letting Senator Joseph Lambert
(LESPWA, an ally of Preval) present an unimpressive response
to the technical objections of the opposition. The debates,
transmitted live on television and radio stations from 12:00
until 1:00 in the morning, were very heated; at one point,
Latortue requested those Senators bearing arms to leave their
weapons in their car outside, to which newly elected LESPWA
Senator John Joel Joseph complied (Joseph is widely rumored
to have been involved in kidnappings, so no one was surprised
to see he was armed.)
3. (U) Around midnight, opposition senators left the session
in the hope that the vote would no longer be valid after
midnight (arguing that a new day requires a new agenda).
Taking the opportunity, Senator Lambert proposed the
resolution censuring the Prime Minister. 18 Senators
(representing LESPWA and allies) voted for the resolution.
Nine senators did not cast a vote, and one abstained (Senate
President Kely Bastien did not participate in the vote, as
per Senate internal rules).
4. (SBU) COMMENT. During the 10 hour Senate session, Prime
Minister Pierre Louis' record was hardly discussed, leading
many observers to conclude that she was not removed for
performance. President Preval is expected to name a new
Prime Minister in the next few days. Preval has told us that
Jean Max Bellerive, current Minister of Plan and a competent
technocrat, is his first pick. Both houses must vote on the
new Prime Minister, his slate of ministers and his proposed
platform, things that may take time to negotiate as Preval
does not have a majority in the Lower Chamber as he does in
the Senate.
MERTEN
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR S, C, WHA/CAR, DRL, S/CRS,
INL FOR KEVIN BROWN, HEATHER WILD AND MEAGAN MCBRIDE
INR/IAA
SOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD
STATE PASS AID FOR LAC/CAR
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL PINR HA
SUBJECT: PRIME MINISTER PIERRE LOUIS OUSTED AFTER
TUMULTUOUS SENATE DEBATE
1. (SBU) SUMMARY: At midnight on October 29, the Senate
ousted Prime Minister Pierre Louis, who refused to appear at
the interpellation session. 18 Senators out of 29 gave
Pierre Louis a vote of no confidence, after opposition
Senators had left the session in the expectation that a vote
could no longer be held. END SUMMARY.
2. (U) In response to a convocation from the President of the
Senate, Prime Minister Pierre Louis addressed a letter to the
Senate early afternoon on October 29, stating she would not
be appearing in front of the Senate given she felt ''a
decision had already been made'' to remove her. Opposition
senators who had not previously supported Pierre Louis
rallied to oppose the interpellation on procedural grounds,
making the process far more drawn out than many expected.
Opposition senators, including Youri Latortue, Evalliere
Beauplan, Rudy Heriveaux and Andris Riche, attempted to stall
the session. Latortue argued the convocation was illegal
because the Lower Chamber was in recess and that Parliament
was limited to the agenda of its extraordinary session set by
President Preval.
3. (U) The LESPWA majority remained relatively quiet
throughout the debate, instead letting Senator Joseph Lambert
(LESPWA, an ally of Preval) present an unimpressive response
to the technical objections of the opposition. The debates,
transmitted live on television and radio stations from 12:00
until 1:00 in the morning, were very heated; at one point,
Latortue requested those Senators bearing arms to leave their
weapons in their car outside, to which newly elected LESPWA
Senator John Joel Joseph complied (Joseph is widely rumored
to have been involved in kidnappings, so no one was surprised
to see he was armed.)
3. (U) Around midnight, opposition senators left the session
in the hope that the vote would no longer be valid after
midnight (arguing that a new day requires a new agenda).
Taking the opportunity, Senator Lambert proposed the
resolution censuring the Prime Minister. 18 Senators
(representing LESPWA and allies) voted for the resolution.
Nine senators did not cast a vote, and one abstained (Senate
President Kely Bastien did not participate in the vote, as
per Senate internal rules).
4. (SBU) COMMENT. During the 10 hour Senate session, Prime
Minister Pierre Louis' record was hardly discussed, leading
many observers to conclude that she was not removed for
performance. President Preval is expected to name a new
Prime Minister in the next few days. Preval has told us that
Jean Max Bellerive, current Minister of Plan and a competent
technocrat, is his first pick. Both houses must vote on the
new Prime Minister, his slate of ministers and his proposed
platform, things that may take time to negotiate as Preval
does not have a majority in the Lower Chamber as he does in
the Senate.
MERTEN