US embassy cable - 05PORTAUPRINCE3003

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 PORT AU PRINCE 003003 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL, PGOV, HA, Elections 
SUBJECT: HAITI ELECTIONS:  PRESIDENTIAL DEBATES 
 
REF: A. PORT-AU-PRINCE 2989 
     B. PORT-AU-PRINCE 2945 
 
1.  (SBU) Summary:  The first round of a series of six 
debates between leading presidential candidates concluded 
December 1.  A total of eight candidates squared off in the 
debates, organized by the local organization ECOSOF and 
sponsored by the US Embassy Public Diplomacy section.  The 
three debates received wide coverage on Haitian television 
and radio including live radio broadcasts of the debates and 
several airings of each debate on television.  The debates 
also featured prominently in local news broadcasts.  Marc 
Bazin, Rigaud Duplan, and Serge Gilles began the series 
November 17.  Charles Henri Baker, Paul Denis, and Luc 
Mesadieu participated in the November 24 debate.  The third 
round was between Evans Paul and Leslie Manigat on December 
1.  Rene Preval, former president and current presidential 
front-runner, garnered criticism for his refusal to 
participate.  A second series of three debates with the same 
candidates squaring off against different opponents is 
scheduled to begin December 12.  End Summary. 
 
Bazin, Gilles, and Duplan Face-Off 
---------------------------------- 
 
2.  (U) The major themes raised in the first debate included 
security, justice, and the economy.  Marc Bazin (Union pour 
Haiti, a formal alliance between MIDH, Movement to Introduce 
Democracy in Haiti, and Fanmi Lavalas leadership) focused on 
the institutional reinforcement of the police and was the 
only one of the three candidates to question why Haiti would 
need to reconstitute an army.  Bazin also emphasized 
improving infrastructure, including the privatization of the 
national electricity company, the importance of budgetary 
discipline, and the need to build a participatory, competent 
and honest administration.  Serge Gilles (Fusion Party of 
Social Democrats, a merger of three smaller parties - PANPRA, 
KONAKOM, and Ayiti Kapab) concentrated his remarks on 
re-launching the Haitian economy and re-establishing the 
army.  Gilles stated that Haiti needed political and economic 
stability and transparency in government operations.  Rigaud 
Duplan (Party for Justice for Peace and National Development) 
focused on security and justice.  Duplan, the lesser known of 
the three, is a former Minister of Finance and is a prominent 
attorney in Port-au-Prince. 
 
3.  (U) An informal poll of the audience after the debate 
found Bazin to be the "most convincing" with 51% of the 
audience to Gilles' 39%, but Gilles prevailed as the 
candidate with the "best program" with 49% to Bazin's 33% and 
Duplan's 18%. 
 
Mesadieu, Denis, and Baker in Round Two 
--------------------------------------- 
 
4.  (U) Luc Mesadieu (Christian Movement for a New Haiti, 
MOCHRENA), highlighted the need for political stability, 
transparency in government, rule of law, and international 
investment.  Mesadieu stressed employment, education, and the 
environment.  Paul Denis (Struggling People's Organization, 
OPL), spoke primarily of the need for a decentralized 
government and for infrastructure development.  He ended his 
initial presentation by providing an organized list of his 
ideas to improve Haiti.  Denis voiced his opposition to the 
re-establishment of the army saying it was a question of 
economics.  Charles Henri Baker, an unaffiliated, independent 
presidential candidate, spoke of the need for "order, 
discipline, work" (in Creole - lod, disiplin, travay), the 
slogan of his campaign.  Baker referred to himself in the 
third person and used his catchphase repeatedly in all of his 
interventions.  His initial presentation focused on the need 
for security and development of the police and the justice 
system.  He, like Mesadieu, called for the reinstitution of 
the army.  Baker also mentioned the need for a re-forestation 
program for Haiti's denuded landscape. 
 
5.  (U) The post-debate poll of the audience gave Baker and 
Mesadieu a virtual tie for "most convincing" with 36% and 34% 
respectively.  However, Baker prevailed for having the best 
policy platform with a strong 42% of the audience.  Denis and 
Mesadieu followed with 28% and 23% respectively on the same 
question. 
 
Manigat and Paul Go Head-to-Head 
-------------------------------- 
 
6.  (SBU) Lesly Manigat (National Assembly of Progressive 
Democrats, RDNP), gave a rousing introduction addressing the 
audience in a manner more suited to a political rally than a 
debate forum.  He referred to his party's platform in his 
presentation but provided few details, relying on rhetorical 
references to the misery and suffering of Haiti and the 
Haitian people to get his message across.  Manigat sat 
between interventions which highlighted his age, and does not 
bode well for his stamina as president.  Evans Paul's 
(Alyans) straightforward language, organized platform 
presentation, and robust physical presence contrasted sharply 
with Manigat's. 
 
7.  (U) Evans Paul came out ahead on both post-debate 
questions: "most convincing" at 57% to Manigat's 33%; and 
"best program" at 48% to Manigat's better showing on this 
issue with 42%. 
 
8.  (SBU) Presidential front-runner, Rene Preval, declined to 
participate in this first series of debates, a fact for which 
Lesly Manigat publicly castigated him.  Preval claimed in a 
meeting with Charge that he and his new party, Platform for 
Hope, were still ironing out the details of their platform 
(Ref A).  The Embassy is actively encouraging Preval to 
participate in the second round of debates. 
9.  (U) Comment:  The debate series garnered serious media 
coverage, though media preoccupation with unsettled elections 
preparations and the then-uncertain election dates diluted 
attention paid to the candidate's programs.  Still, the 
quality of the organization and the media exposure for the 
first round promoted a healthy discussion of issues.  Debates 
in previous elections had not been as professionally produced 
and organized nor as inclusive.  With election dates set and 
the campaign formally underway, we expect intensified 
interest and coverage of the second round.  End Comment. 
 
CARNEY