VENEZUELA OVERSTEPS IN PRESIDENTIAL RACE

UNCLAS LA PAZ 003518 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PREL ECON BL SUBJECT: VENEZUELA OVERSTEPS IN PRESIDENTIAL RACE ¶1. Summary: In a diplomatic stumble, Venezuelan Charge d'Affairs Rafael Valero hailed Evo Morales as the anti-imperialist candidate and criticized Podemos rival Tuto Qurioga as the puppet of multinationals and the U.S. in a press conference on November 23. Public reaction to Venezuelan "interference" in Bolivia's election was quick and overwhelmingly negative, culminating in a November 24 demonstration in front of the Venezuelan Embassy here. Valero's comments may not permanently damage Morales, but they played into the polarizing strategy of his rival. End summary. ¶2. Venezuelan Charge d'Affairs Rafael Valero met on camera with the media on November 23 to respond to a series of letters written by Podemos candidate Tuto Quiroga to Venezuelan president Chavez warning him against continued interference in Bolivian affairs. Valero, working himself into an angry lather, said Bolivians either were "with Bush or Chavez," adding that, "if Evo Morales is anti-imperialist, then long live Evo Morales." He called Quiroga a lackey of the imperialist empire (us) and multinational interests. ¶3. Public reaction to Valero's statements was quick and overwhelmingly negative. Analysts publicly described them as "intolerable" and "excessive." The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) responded within hours, blaming Valero for "clear interference in internal matters that does not become a foreign diplomat in our country." The MFA further stated that it had summoned Valero in order to warn him about the inappropriateness of his actions. ¶4. Quiroga was quick to respond, calling Valero's appearance an "enormous error" and "clear proof" of Chavez's policy of interference. Even MAS vice-presidential candidate Alvaro Garcia Linera said Valero's declaration was "unacceptable," and "reaffirmed" that the MAS opposes "all external interferences in internal matters on the part of any Embassy." A November 25 editorial in left leaning daily La Prensa added to the criticism, noting Venezuela's refusal to purchase Bolivian soy, its support for an energy ring excluding Bolivia, and the absence of a Venezuelan ambassador here since 2003. It also mentioned that during Quiroga's previous term as president (2001-02),he led the regional reaction in support of Chavez when a civil-military coup was attempted against him. ¶5. (U) Over one hundred people protested in front of the Venezuelan Embassy on November 24, burning a Venezuelan flag. On the defensive, Venezuelan Labor Minister Maria Cristina Iglesias, from Cochabamba, called Valero's statement "personal" and commented that "it can't stain or cloud the affection, love or respect that the Venezuelan government feels for the people of Bolivia, its government and its circumstances." ¶6. (U) Comment: Valero's misstep ultimately may not effect the outcome of the election, but it plays into Quiroga's strategy of polarizing the race and hopefully convincing new middle class recruits to the MAS (EVO) to think twice before voting. End comment. GREENLEE