DEVELOPMENTS IN CONGRESS AND THE LEAD-UP TO MARCH

C O N F I D E N T I A L BOGOTA 010991

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

SOUTHCOM FOR POLAD

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/28/2015
TAGS: PGOV ECON PINR CO
SUBJECT: DEVELOPMENTS IN CONGRESS AND THE LEAD-UP TO MARCH
CONGRESSIONAL ELECTIONS

REF: A. BOGOTA 10588


B. BOGOTA 6143

C. BOGOTA 5619

Classified By: CDA Milton K. Drucker, Reasons: 1.4 B & D.


1. (C) Summary: With less than a month remaining in the
current session, the only major item to pass Congress thus
far is the 2006 budget. A law aimed at approving Colombia's
compliance with the Hague Convention on child abduction is
pending conference committee approval. Opposition to Uribe
torpedoed an attempt to allow reelection for governors and
mayors. Members are focused on their own futures in
elections to be held March 12, and the pace of legislative
activity is even slower than the norm. Internal party
decision-making on formal candidacies is ongoing, with lists
due by January 28. Support for Uribe remains high among
MOCs; nevertheless, they complain privately that Uribe has
not provided them enough funds for discretionary spending in
their districts going into the elections. Rumors continue of
paramilitary intimidation of -- or support for -- individual
candidates. End Summary.


2. (C) The current Congressional session will end December

15. The Congress will reconvene for the subsequent regular
session on March 15 (running until June 20). In the current
session, the only major law passed was the 2006 budget (see
details Ref A). The full Senate approved (conference
committee action pending) legislation aimed at improving
Colombia's compliance with the Hague Convention on child
abduction. (Comment: Post has consulted regularly with key
members of Congress on the legislation, and at one point
suggested wording changes that the Congress accepted and
incorporated. End Comment.) Despite President Uribe's
public support for the eighth overall attempt to modify the
Constitution to allow for gubernatorial/mayoral reelection,
opposition parties forced delays at the Senate committee
level, making full approval impossible prior to December 15.
(Comment: privately, several pro-Uribe MOCs expressed concern
to us about gubernatorial/mayoral reelection, saying there
are no level playing field guarantees at the local level.
End Comment.) The Congress talked up protection of
agricultural interests within the FTA context in several
sessions, and a censure motion against the Minister of
Communications (corruption allegations) was handily defeated
by Uribista majorities.


3. (SBU) MOCs have, in general, spent less time than normal
(see Ref C) in Bogota in formal Congressional sessions, as
the campaign season is now in full swing. All seats in both
houses (102 Senators, 166 Representatives) will be decided in
elections on March 12. The elected will take office on July

20. The major parties are all involved in internal
decision-making (centralized in all cases) regarding formal
candidacies. Each party's Congressional nominees must be
formalized by January 28.


4. (C) Press has reported prominent MOC complaints
(including in face-to-face meetings with President Uribe) of
intimidation of candidates by illegal armed groups -- in
particular the paramilitaries. While we hear rumors of
paramilitary money entering individual campaigns, evidence
has not been forthcoming. Many MOCs also complain that Uribe
has not provided them enough discretionary funds to campaign
effectively.
DRUCKER