(U) KUDOS FOR NIGER REFERENDUM REPORTING

C O N F I D E N T I A L STATE 102941 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/02/2034 TAGS: PINR NG SUBJECT: (U) KUDOS FOR NIGER REFERENDUM REPORTING (C-AL9-02061) REF: A. NIAMEY 000505 ¶B. NIAMEY 000625 Classified By: MICHAEL P. OWENS, ACTING DIR, INR/OPS. REASON: 1.4(C). ¶1. (C) WASHINGTON ANALYSTS WOULD LIKE TO SEND KUDOS FOR REFTELS (NIAMEY 000505 AND NIAMEY 000625),WHICH PROVIDED INSIGHT INTO THE POLITICAL PARTIES' VIEWS OF PRESIDENT MAMADOU TANDJA'S REFERENDUM AND THE UPCOMING LEGISLATIVE ELECTIONS IN OCTOBER. WE RECOGNIZE THAT POST WILL PROVIDE COVERAGE OF THE ELECTIONS, BUT WOULD LIKE TO EXPRESS OUR CONTINUED INTEREST IN THE QUESTIONS AND TOPICS BELOW. ¶A. (U) WHAT IS THE PUBLIC PERCEPTION REGARDING THE ELECTORAL PROCESS? THE NEW CONSTITUTION? TANDJA'S EXTENDED TERM? ¶B. (U) WHAT INDICATIONS, IF ANY, ARE THERE THAT TANDJA MIGHT STEP DOWN WHEN HIS LEGITIMATE TERM ENDS IN DECEMBER? ¶C. (U) ARE PARTIES FOLLOWING THROUGH ON PLANS TO BOYCOTT THE ELECTION? DOES THIS STRATEGICALLY HELP OR HURT THE OPPOSITION? DOES IT GIVE AN ADVANTAGE TO MINOR PARTIES? ¶D. (U) PLEASE PROVIDE REPORTING ON TALK OF PROTESTS, STRIKES, AND/OR VIOLENCE, AS TIMES AND RESOURCES ALLOW. ¶2. (U) PLEASE CITE C-AL9-02061 IN THE SUBJECT LINE OF REPORTING IN RESPONSE TO THE ABOVE QUESTIONS. CLINTON