US embassy cable - 04LILONGWE515

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FINAL PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS RESULTS ANNOUNCED

Identifier: 04LILONGWE515
Wikileaks: View 04LILONGWE515 at Wikileaks.org
Origin: Embassy Lilongwe
Created: 2004-06-09 15:27:00
Classification: UNCLASSIFIED
Tags: PGOV KDEM MI Elections Political
Redacted: This cable was not redacted by Wikileaks.
This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.


 
UNCLAS LILONGWE 000515 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV, KDEM, MI, Elections, Political 
SUBJECT: FINAL PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS RESULTS ANNOUNCED 
 
 
SUMMARY 
------- 
1. The results of the three parliamentary districts with 
outstanding results, announced on June 4, change the 
composition of Parliament very little.  The Malawi 
Congress Party and the United Democratic Front both 
added one to their totals.  The third seat went to an 
independent.  At present, the House is eight shy of its 
full compliment, pending by-elections, which should be 
conducted within 90 days after the May 20 general 
elections.  At the first session of Parliament, which 
must convene before July 5, a Speaker will be elected 
and a 2004-05 national budget approved.  END SUMMARY. 
 
2. The Malawi Electoral Commission announced on June 4 
the results of the three parliamentary districts where 
"investigations" into vote counting had to be conducted. 
With the recently announced results, the Malawi Congress 
Party (MCP) has 57 MPs; the United Democratic Front 
(UDF) has 50 MPs; and there are 40 independent MPs. 
 
3. On June 8, Chief Justice Leonard Unyolo concluded 
swearing in 182 of the 185 newly elected Members of 
Parliament.  Three of the MPs did not take their oath 
because one was absent; another was recuperating in the 
hospital after a car accident; and the third MP's 
victory is being challenged in court. 
 
4. The 193-member House will be complete after the eight 
by-elections, six in districts where elections did not 
occur for various reasons and two in the districts of 
the newly-elected President and Vice President, who are 
barred from holding two public offices simultaneously. 
 
5. Deputy Clerk of Parliament Stanslas Chisanu confirmed 
that the Speaker of Parliament will be elected during 
the first session, which is mandated to occur within 45 
days after the elections (by July 5). The principal 
business of the first session will be discussion and 
approval of the 2004-05 national budget. 
 
DOUGHERTY 

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