VZCZCXRO6501
RR RUEHQU
DE RUEHPU #0045/01 0092033
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 092033Z JAN 06
FM AMEMBASSY PORT AU PRINCE
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 2015
INFO RUEHZH/HAITI COLLECTIVE
RUEHBR/AMEMBASSY BRASILIA 0887
RUEHWN/AMEMBASSY BRIDGETOWN 1451
RUEHKG/AMEMBASSY KINGSTON 1936
RUEHME/AMEMBASSY MEXICO 2403
RUEHBH/AMEMBASSY NASSAU 2633
RUEHSP/AMEMBASSY PORT OF SPAIN 1589
RUEHSA/AMEMBASSY PRETORIA 0721
RUEHDG/AMEMBASSY SANTO DOMINGO 0310
RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 0233
RUEHQU/AMCONSUL QUEBEC 0334
RUMIAAA/HQ USSOUTHCOM J2 MIAMI FL
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 0773

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 PORT AU PRINCE 000045 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR WHA/CAR 
DRL 
S/CRS 
SOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD 
STATE PASS AID FOR LAC/CAR 
INR/IAA (BEN-YEHUDA) 
TREASURY FOR JEFFREY LEVINE 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV PREL KDEM PKAO HA
SUBJECT: NEW DATES FOR HAITIAN ELECTION SET, FIRST ROUND 
FEBRUARY 7 
 
 
¶1. Summary: After a weekend of political maneuvering, the 
first round of national elections is set for February 7, the 
second round for March 12, the inauguration for March 29, and 
the local and municipal elections for April 30.  Elections 
machinations began January 6 when the Provisional Electoral 
Council (CEP) rejected UN Security Council and OAS pressure 
to schedule the first round of elections for February 7. 
Pressure on the PM and CEP from the international community, 
however, helped avoid calls for delays during a January 7 
cabinet meeting on elections and galvanize the CEP to vote 
for February 7 elections.  According to the PM, the executive 
order convening the first round of elections February 7 is 
signed and needs only be published.  End Summary. 
 
¶2. The UN Security Council and OAS declared January 6 that 
the Interim Government of Haiti must hold the first round of 
national elections by February 7.  Though the Provisional 
Electoral Council (CEP) was slated to meet January 6 to fix 
new dates, CEP President Max Mathurin did not call a meeting 
to vote, instead the members met informally in small groups. 
The members insisted they needed a technical analysis of the 
feasibility of February 7 and that February 15 would be a 
better date.  CEP General Director Jacques Bernard said CEP 
dithering resulted from a nationalistic reaction against the 
UN and OAS for what the CEP perceived as an attempt by the 
international community to dictate the CEP decision.  (Note: 
The IGOH was the first to propose February 7 as a possible 
date for the first round. End Note)  Bernard and Charge 
Griffiths lobbied CEP president Mathurin and several CEP 
members January 6 and encouraged them to expeditiously choose 
February 7 for the first round. 
 
¶3. The PM hosted a meeting January 7 with the cabinet, 
international community and CEP to discuss ID Card 
distribution, voting centers, elections security, and 
election dates.  According to the PM, throughout the meeting, 
the ministers of culture, environment, agriculture and health 
disrupted the conversation and attacked the electoral 
process, seeking further delay.  (Note: The PM said he 
expects the ministers of culture, environment and agriculture 
to resign in the coming week.  End Note.)  However, because 
the new election dates will be legalized by executive order, 
which only the President, PM and Minister of the Interior 
must sign, the PM ended the meeting before the assembled 
group could discuss election dates, preventing any debate on 
the new dates. 
 
¶4. The CEP met later January 7 and recommended that the first 
round be held February 7.  CEP members Patrick Fequiere and 
Louis Gerson Richeme did not attend the meeting, but the 
remaining members voted four - three to hold the first round 
February 7, the second round March 12, inaugurate a new 
president March 29, and hold local elections April 30. 
(Note: The PM said he would accept CEP member Fequiere's 
resignation should he submit it in protest.  End Note.) 
Rosemond Pradel and Pauris Jean-Baptiste argued for later 
dates, purportedly because of close ties to the political 
parties FUSION and OPL.  Polling indicates that neither is 
faring well in the presidential race.  According to the PM, 
the executive order establishing the new dates has already 
been signed and will be published in the government 
newspaper, the Moniteur January 12. 
 
¶5. Comment: Presidential candidate Preval's consistent lead 
in the polls has not galvanized his opposition to seek 
coalitions, but it has apparently caused some members of the 
CEP and cabinet to ally to delay elections.  CEP member 
Patrick Fequiere has withdrawn from planning and has sent CEP 
president Mathurin a series of documents protesting various 
aspects of election preparations.  We should prepare for both 
Fequiere and losers in the presidential race to criticize the 
 
PORT AU PR 00000045  002 OF 002 
 
 
electoral process after the election.  Both will likely use 
any means available to taint the results.  End Comment. 
 
CARNEY