US embassy cable - 05PORTAUPRINCE2915

UNCLAS PORT AU PRINCE 002915 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR WHA/CAR 
DRL 
S/CRS 
SOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD 
STATE PASS AID FOR LAC/CAR 
INR/IAA (BEN-YEHUDA) 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV, PREL, KDEM, HA, Elections 
SUBJECT: HAITI ELECTIONS DATES DECIDED 
 
1. Summary: On November 25, the Provisional Electoral Council 
announced their decision to hold the first round of elections 
January 8, the second round February 15, and local elections 
March 5.  The new dates do not respect the constitutionally 
mandated February 7 power transition, but they are the 
earliest dates the CEP and its international partners will be 
able to technically hold elections while still allowing for 
unforeseen problems.  The CEP delivered a letter conveying 
the decision to the PM late 24 November after several days of 
often bruising meetings.  End Summary. 
 
2. The Provisional Electoral Council decided November 24 to 
hold the first round of elections January 8, the second round 
February 15, and local elections March 5.  The CEP made the 
long awaited decision in close cooperation with MINUSTAH 
elections officials and OAS technical experts.  The CEP sent 
the time table to the Interim Government of Haiti late 
November 24, and Prime Minister Latortue informed post that 
President Alexandre planned to sign the decree November 25 
legally fixing the dates.  Though the date will not become 
legal until it is promulgated through the government 
newspaper, the Moniteur, CEP member Gerson Richeme, the 
official spokesman, announced the date over the radio 
November 25. 
 
3. Though the new dates will not respect the constitutionally 
mandated February 7 power transition, according CEP Director 
General Jacques Bernard, respecting February 7 is no longer 
technically feasible.  MINUSTAH elections officials say they 
need a minimum of five weeks from the beginning of ballot 
printing to organize elections.  MINUSTAH elections chief 
Gerard Lechevallier told the core group November 23 that 
ballot printing began November 23, meaning, with no problems, 
the soonest elections could be held would be December 28.  In 
order to allow for unforeseen problems, the CEP decided to 
build an extra eleven days into the schedule and hold the 
first round January 8.  Some CEP members wanted to respect 
the February 7 transition by holding the second round 
February 5.  MINUSTAH projects that the CEP will need 
slightly more than five weeks to organize a second round; the 
CEP voted for the second round on February 15. 
 
4. Charge met November 25 with Fanmi Lavalas (FL) leaders in 
coalition with MIDH figure Mac Bazin.  They expressed concern 
regarding the selection of January 8 for the first round of 
elections.  Their concern relates to the Haitian tradition of 
visiting home and family in the provinces during the end of 
year holiday season.  January 6 is of particular importance 
to Haitians as the Catholic Holyday of Epiphany, which, more 
important to Haitian society and culture, also corresponds to 
a significant voodoo celebration.  The FL partisans doubted 
that the majority of Haitians would be in a position to cast 
their ballots on January 8 as they would not have yet 
returned to their usual residences. 
 
5. Comment: The CEP decision leaves three questions open: 
when the power transition would occur, who will govern Haiti 
after the IGOH mandate runs out February 7, and what will 
happen after MINUSTAH,s mandate runs out February 16.  While 
Lavalas raised a valid point about the Epiphany, the same can 
be said of any date between December 15 and January 15. 
Since the announcement over the radio, political party 
leaders have commented on timing; the biggest criticism so 
far has been that holding elections in three rounds will 
stretch already under-funded political parties. 
 
CARNEY