VZCZCXRO8021
RR RUEHMA RUEHPA
DE RUEHMV #0050 0151729
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 151729Z JAN 09
FM AMEMBASSY MONROVIA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0693
INFO RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE

UNCLAS MONROVIA 000050 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O.12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV PREL EAID LI
SUBJECT: LIBERIA: FOURTH SESSION OF 52ND LEGISLATURE OPENS 
 
REF A: 2008 MONROVIA 1059 
REF B: 2008 MONROVIA 1049 
 
¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY.  The Liberian House and Senate held separate 
opening ceremonies January 12 to mark the beginning of the Fourth 
Session of the 52nd Legislature.  About two-thirds of the 
Legislators were present, with some members still abroad after four 
months of recess.  Vice President Boakai, as President of the 
Senate, asked the Senators to accept the Supreme Court's ruling and 
reinstate Senate Pro Tempore Isaac Nyenabo, but the Senate is still 
divided over who should lead it (Ref A).  Speaker of the House Alex 
Tyler told his chamber that he expected them to arrive at a 
compromise on the population threshold for redistricting in time for 
the 2011 elections to go forward as planned (Ref B).  The other 
House priorities for this year include agriculture, roads, and 
mining.  END SUMMARY. 
 
SENATE LEADERSHIP CRISIS STILL ONGOING 
-------------------------------------- 
 
¶2. (SBU) Delivering the keynote address at the opening of the 
Senate, Vice President Joseph Boakai told the Senators that "as 
lawmakers, they should respect laws too," by which he meant the 
Senate should accept the Supreme Court's order that Senate Pro 
Tempore Isaac Nyenabo should be reinstated immediately.  Boakai also 
urged the Senate to be mindful of how the public perception of the 
chamber has eroded because of the leadership crisis. 
 
¶3. (SBU) The Senate, however, seems no closer to settling the 
dispute.  Lahai Lasannah, arguing the Supreme Court had no right to 
interfere on this Legislative Branch issue, is refusing to step down 
as Acting President Pro Tempore until the Senate meets to vote on 
Isaac Nyenabo's suspension.  However, the Senate was unable to 
convene for its first working session January 13 because of 
disagreement on who would chair the session. 
 
¶4. (SBU) Nyenabo told PolAsst January 12 that he believes he is on 
the right side of the law and is trying to remain calm.  He expects 
the Senate will reinstate him in accordance with the Supreme Court 
ruling in the next couple of days.  Nyenabo told PolAsst he believes 
that Lasannah and his supporters have quickly used up more than 60 
percent of the Pro Tempore's budget and are afraid of getting 
audited if power reverts back to Nyenabo.  Nyenabo also said 
Lasannah's supporters who are committee chairs are afraid of losing 
their position if Lasannah is no longer in control. 
 
HOUSE WILL TACKLE THRESHOLD POPULATION QUESTION 
--------------------------------------------- -- 
 
¶5. (SBU) Speaker of the House Alex Tyler laid out his priorities for 
the Fourth Session in his keynote address.  He said developments in 
agriculture, roads, and mining were crucial for the social and 
economic well-being of the Liberian people.  He said that he expects 
the House to pass a threshold population bill early in the session 
to enable the National Elections Commission to begin the 
redistricting process so that the 2011 elections will not be 
delayed.  He also said the House will consider the Community Rights 
Act, the audit reports submitted to the Legislature by the General 
Auditor, the Freedom of Information Act, and a bill on the national 
parks this year. 
 
COMMENT 
------- 
 
¶6. (SBU) The two most important issues we will be watching in the 
Legislature this session are the lawful resolution of the Senate 
leadership crisis and a population threshold compromise in the 
House.  In the Senate, if Nyenabo is reinstated per the court order, 
there is a possibility that Lasannah's supporters will try again to 
remove him.  Arriving at an equitable threshold compromise in the 
House is going to test Members' ability to put service to their 
country over their own interests.  But, if the two chambers can 
successfully resolve these challenges through the political process, 
they will have demonstrated real growth and maturity of the 
Legislature as an institution. 
 
THOMAS-GREENFIELD