Cablegate: Niger: Local Election Results Show Strength of Mnsd,

VZCZCXRO5080
RR RUEHMA RUEHPA
DE RUEHNM #0022 0111939
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 111939Z JAN 10
FM AMEMBASSY NIAMEY
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 5562
INFO RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE
RHMFISS/HQ USAFRICOM STUTTGART GE

UNCLAS NIAMEY 000022

DEPT FOR AF/W AND AF/RSA; USAID FOR AFR/W
ACCRA FOR USAID/WA
PARIS FOR AFRICA WATCHER

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV KDEM SOCI PHUM NG
SUBJECT: Niger: Local Election Results Show Strength of MNSD,
Independents; Turnout Pegged at 51 Percent

Ref: A)09 Niamey 1017 B)09 Niamey 830 C)09 Niamey 1005

1. The Independent National Commission on Elections (CENI) recently
released the final results of the December 27 local elections, held
in 266 urban and rural communes nationwide, updating preliminary
results reported (ref A). The results indicate that 51.34 percent
of eligible voters participated in local elections, as compared to
CENI's estimates of 51.27 percent for the October 20, 2009 National
Assembly elections (Ref B) and that ruling party National Movement
for a Developing Society (MNSD) won 1939 out of 3724 seats(52
percent), with MNSD-aligned parties winni.4|7NId
boycott. The exception was the PNA, which participated in very
limited areas.

3. The local elections complete the 2009 electoral cycle.
Regional and district-level races remain for 2010, but no dates have
been set for them. (Comment: Local elections have not been a major
issue in ongoing discussions between the Opposition and the
Government of Niger (Ref C). End comment.)

ALLEN

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