US embassy cable - 05PORTAUPRINCE2989

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 PORT AU PRINCE 002989 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR WHA AND USOAS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/02/2015 
TAGS: PREL, PGOV, HA, Elections 
SUBJECT: HAITI ELECTIONS: PREVAL'S MEETING WITH CDA CARNEY, 
NOVEMBER 29 
 
 
Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Timothy M. Carney for Reasons: 1.4 (b 
and d) 
 
1.  (SBU)  Summary:  Former President Rene Preval expressed 
satisfaction with the January 8 election date in a meeting 
with Charge d'Affaires Carney on November 29.  He expressed 
confidence that he was the leading candidate, attributing his 
popularity to his previous term and his attempts to improve 
Haiti's infrastructure.  Preval evinced less than thorough 
knowledge of his party's slate of senate and parliamentary 
candidates, and demonstrated no enthusiasm over its chances 
to gain a parliamentary majority.  Policy goals include 
dedicating "at least 20 percent of the budget" towards 
education, and formalizing the informal economy, which he 
estimates at $2 billion.  The Charge and post's senior 
officers have maintained a regular dialogue with Preval over 
the past two months, and in light of his front-running 
status, we will maintain this contact and seek to expand the 
scope of our dialogue. End Summary. 
 
2.  (SBU)  Charge Carney called on former president and 
L'Espoir (Hope) presidential candidate Rene Preval on 
November 29, at his campaign headquarters to discuss the 
campaign.  Preval included his former Prime Minister Jacques 
Edouard Alexis and former Foreign Minister Fritz Longchamp 
and several other L'Espoir party members. Preval told the 
Charge he has demurred from participating in the 
Embassy-sponsored debates between the leading candidates 
because he has not sorted out differences with the party's 
platform drafted by others within L'Espoir, though he 
suggested that he may be interested in participating in the 
second round of debates. (Note: Media coverage of the final 
debate between Evans Paul and Leslie Manigat on December 1 
focused on Manigat's public admonishment of Preval for not 
appearing.  End Note). 
 
3.  (SBU)  Preval felt comfortable with the announcement that 
the first round of elections will take place January 8, 2006. 
He favored "good elections, but quickly because the people 
want them."  Preval suggested that some interests do not want 
elections, including those who suggest elections should be 
delayed at least two years.  He also indicated that the 
Interim Government of Haiti's (IGOH) failure to meet the 
constitutionally-mandated transition date of February 7 would 
create problems only if elections ran poorly: "If elections 
are good, no one will care about February 7."  Preval 
believes that interim prime minister Latortue will not step 
down as promised on February 7, arguing that Latortue will 
need to stay on until a new prime minister is sworn into 
office.  He noted that the issue whether the next president's 
term is five years from the date of inauguration or February 
7 needed to be discussed prior to the inauguration. 
 
4.  (C)  Preval said his party is "calm" and encouraging the 
Provisional Electoral Council (CEP) to do its job without 
layering on criticism.  He admitted the CEP was "not ready" 
and cited the bungled announcement of electoral dates as 
evidence.  Preval raised the issue of  voting sites, warning 
that more are required as many Haitians would find it 
difficult to get to their assigned voting locations.  Preval 
said people would give up if they went to the wrong voting 
site.  Preval did not know how many candidates his party is 
running.  Advisors at the meeting, including Preval's former 
prime minister, education minister and foreign minister, 
informed Preval and the Charge that L'Espoir had 75 or 76 
candidates for deputy and 20 senatorial candidates.  Preval 
shook his head no when asked if L'Espoir could win a majority 
in parliament. 
 
5.  (SBU)  Preval said that his apparent status as 
front-runner in the campaign is due to his tenure as 
president of Haiti 1995-2000. Preval recited having begun 
several infrastructural projects, but blamed their 
incompletion on lack of materiel.  Preval said that education 
would be his priority during a second administration and 
would dedicate "at least 20 percent of the budget."  He 
added, "if we can get it up to 40%, we'll do it." Preval 
wants to fulfill his first administration's promise of 
providing universal primary and secondary education. He 
lamented that parents cannot afford to send their children to 
school and said he would encourage small to medium-sized 
enterprises to create jobs to help parents defray education 
costs.  Preval noted the one place children could receive a 
meal was at school.  Preval said he is an ardent believer in 
the teachings of Peruvian economist Hernando De Soto.  Preval 
estimates that the informal economy in Haiti generates over 
USD two billion and it should be "secularized and 
formalized."  Preval admitted that there has to be 
simultaneous macroeconomic management to lead to growth in 
the economy.  Preval said he would work to strengthen 
institutions (nfi) and achieve decentralization of the 
government called for by the Haitian constitution. 
 
6.  (C)  On security, Preval said there is no need for a 
Haitian army since Haiti is "neither defending itself from 
war nor making war."  Preval said he is inclined to maintain 
the presence of the UN Stabilization Mission in Haiti 
(MINUSTAH) since they are "here to help."  Preval advocates 
the creation of a type of gendarmerie. 
 
7.  (C)  Comment: As he has done so in several prior 
meetings, Preval appeared fit and in good health, not 
betraying any signs of the chronic alcoholism from which he 
is rumored to suffer.  His excuse for not participating in 
our debates is no more than that.  Preval has yet to appear 
in public or pronounce on any issue, and as the acknowledged 
front runner (confirmed by our most recent CID-Gallup poll) 
there is no reason to expect him to change his strategy. 
Preval has always made himself available to us privately, and 
the conversations have been cordial and wide-ranging, if 
somewhat guarded.  Preval has demonstrated a desire to 
maintain a dialogue with the USG.  Post will address the 
political ramifications of his front-runner status via 
septel, but for the moment, we will continue our steady 
dialogue with Preval and his close advisors and seek to 
expand the areas of our talks to include matters of key 
bilateral interest.  End comment. 
CARNEY