US embassy cable - 05PORTAUPRINCE2941

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NEW DATES FOR HAITIAN ELECTIONS OFFICIAL

Identifier: 05PORTAUPRINCE2941
Wikileaks: View 05PORTAUPRINCE2941 at Wikileaks.org
Origin: Embassy Port Au Prince
Created: 2005-11-30 16:48:00
Classification: UNCLASSIFIED
Tags: PGOV PREL KDEM HA Elections
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 PORT AU PRINCE 002941 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR WHA/CAR 
DRL 
S/CRS 
SOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD 
STATE PASS AID FOR LAC/CAR 
INR/IAA (BEN-YEHUDA) 
TREASURY FOR MAUREEN WAFER 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV, PREL, KDEM, HA, Elections 
SUBJECT: NEW DATES FOR HAITIAN ELECTIONS OFFICIAL 
 
 
1. Post received November 29 a copy of the Moniteur, the 
official government newspaper, which established new dates 
for the Haitian election by executive order.  The edition, 
marked as published November 28, convenes the first round of 
national elections January 8, the runoff February 15, and 
local elections March 5.  The order states that the new 
president will assume power February 24. 
 
2. The new elections dates will not allow the Provisional 
Electoral Council (CEP), government and their international 
partners to respect the February 7 transition to an elected 
government.  However, the interim government pledged over the 
radio November 29 to resign when its mandate expires February 
7 and preside only over the day to day operations of state 
until the newly elected president can be sworn in. 
 
3. Comment: The new dates create some wiggle room for 
elections implementors.  Ballot printing, ID card 
distribution and poll worker training have all begun, but 
remain the areas with the least maneuvering room.  In all 
three areas, implementors will have ten days or less to deal 
with unforeseen problems.  Broad acceptance of the government 
assertion that it will step down after February 7 and cover 
daily operations of the state until February 24 will only be 
possible if it gains the support of the Council of Eminent 
Persons, the body that originally established the interim 
government under the April 4, 2004 accord. 
 
KERST 

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