Niger: Local Election Results Show Strength of MNSD,

UNCLAS NIAMEY 000022 DEPT FOR AF/W AND AF/RSA; USAID FOR AFR/W ACCRA FOR USAID/WA PARIS FOR AFRICA WATCHER SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV KDEM SOCI PHUM NG SUBJECT: Niger: Local Election Results Show Strength of MNSD, Independents; Turnout Pegged at 51 Percent Ref: A)09 Niamey 1017 B)09 Niamey 830 C)09 Niamey 1005 ¶1. The Independent National Commission on Elections (CENI) recently released the final results of the December 27 local elections, held in 266 urban and rural communes nationwide, updating preliminary results reported (ref A). The results indicate that 51.34 percent of eligible voters participated in local elections, as compared to CENI's estimates of 51.27 percent for the October 20, 2009 National Assembly elections (Ref B) and that ruling party National Movement for a Developing Society (MNSD) won 1939 out of 3724 seats(52 percent),with MNSD-aligned parties winni.4|7NId boycott. The exception was the PNA, which participated in very limited areas. ¶3. The local elections complete the 2009 electoral cycle. Regional and district-level races remain for 2010, but no dates have been set for them. (Comment: Local elections have not been a major issue in ongoing discussions between the Opposition and the Government of Niger (Ref C). End comment.) ALLEN