PARAGUAY: COLORADO INTERNAL ELECTIONS CAUSE

UNCLAS ASUNCION 000296 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS NAIROBI FOR MICHAEL FITZPATRICK SOUTHCOM FOR POLAD BARBARA MOORE NSC FOR SUE CRONIN E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV KDEM PINR PA SUBJECT: PARAGUAY: COLORADO INTERNAL ELECTIONS CAUSE BACKLASH REF: A. ASUNCION 200 ¶B. ASUNCION 183 AND PRECEDING ¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY: President Duarte's huge victory in the 2/19 Colorado Party elections bolstered his standing within the Party but also engendered resentment among supporters of Osvaldo Dominguez Dibb (ODD) as well as the opposition parties. ODD's supporters insist the election was decided by massive fraud. Anecdotal evidence suggests fraud occurred but we and other neutral observers remain skeptical that it was of a magnitude to determine the election. The Supreme Electoral Tribunal (TSJE) has lost much of its hard-earned credibility. Duarte has used his political capital to seek authority to assume the Colorado Party Presidency, which required a Supreme Court decision that has drawn significant criticism of Duarte and the Supreme Court. Duarte remains focused on pursuing reelection, and, failing that, returning control of his party so he can pick his successor. End Summary. -------------- Questions about Election Day -------------- ¶2. (U) Questions about the integrity of election balloting started immediately after the vote count began. Two hours after the polls closed it was clear that Duarte had obtained a landslide victory over Osvaldo Dominguez Dibb (ODD),in stark contrast to every poll conducted. ODD and his supporters claimed Duarte stole the elections through massive fraud. Many political figures and civilian observers have similarly alleged significant fraud. There have been credible reports of cedulas (ID cards) for sale, persons long deceased voting, members of other parties voting, and shifting voters from one district to another to discourage voting. ¶3. (SBU) PolOff discussed this matter with Jorge Rolon, a well-respected community activist. Rolon stated that while some fraud very likely occurred, including manipulating voters' lists, controlling the vote of government employees, support from local officials, and buying/renting cedulas, it was probably not on a large enough scale to decide the election. However, Rolon also said that Duarte had gone too far using government money to campaign and control votes (a strong Paraguayan tradition). Furthermore, he noted that political parties do not have independent electoral tribunals, which subjects them to significant manipulation. -------------- TSJE Losing Credibility? SIPDIS -------------- ¶4. (SBU) On 3/9, PolOff discussed the Colorado Internal Elections with Liliana Benitez, Director of Public Relations at the Superior Elections Tribunal (TSJE). Benitez lamented that the TSJE had come under fire from all of the political parties since the Duarte victory. She conceded that the victory was far larger than anyone expected and many Paraguayans now believe that the Colorados managed to figure out a way to manipulate the results. Benitez said that Blas Llano, the Liberal Party (PLRA) President, has said that the Liberals no longer support the idea of the national elections relying on electronic balloting machines because he suspected the machines had been manipulated. Note: The PLRA successfully conducted internal elections in July 2005 using the same machines. End Note. ¶5. (SBU) Benitez stated that the electronic balloting machines had been checked by 5 Brazilian experts prior to the election and immediately after the elections and that no problems with the machines had been uncovered. During the week of 3/6, another Brazilian expert examined the machines to determine if there were any irregularities in the software and determined there were no problems. Nevertheless, OAS representatives have also questioned the vote count and have queried TSJE officials about election day activities, according to Benitez. -------------- Challenging the Supreme Court -------------- ¶6. (U) On 3/9, in a 5-4 split decision, the Supreme Court suspended temporarily the Superior Electoral Court (TSJE) ruling prohibiting Duarte from exercising the Colorado presidency. The TSJE had based its interpretation of Article 237 which prohibits the President of Paraguay from discharging the responsibilities of another position. The Supreme Court's decision prompted an immediate rebuke from ODD's supporters and strident condemnation from the opposition parties, all of whom accused the Supreme Court judges of kowtowing to Duarte and violating Paraguay's constitution. They also complained that the Supreme Court ruled on Duarte's appeal of the TSJE ruling even though it came weeks later than the prescribed five day time period. Members of the PLRA supported by other opposition parties have announced their intention to bring impeachment proceedings against the justices that voted to allow Duarte to exercise both offices and have threatened to pursue similar proceedings against Duarte. (Note. Impeachment requires a two-thirds majority in the House of Deputies. The opposition concedes it presently does not have the votes but insist the procedures will deliver a strong political message. End Note.) The opposition parties are seeking to make their case to the diplomatic community including the U.S., Mercosur partners, and the EU. -------------- -------------- Church and Supreme Court Justice Criticize Ruling -------------- -------------- ¶7. (U) Well-known political and civil society personalities have also criticized the Supreme Court decision, describing it as a clear violation of the Constitution. Monsignor Ignacio Gogorza, President of the Paraguayan Episcopal Conference (CEP) and Bishop of Encarnacion, questioned the independence of the judiciary, asserting that the decision violated the "spirit and the letter" of the Constitution. Meanwhile, on 3/10, SC Justice Jose Altamirano of the Beloved Fatherland Party, who voted against the decision, called on the Catholic Church and civil society to protest the ruling. Duarte supporters have criticized Altamirano and opened impeachment proceedings against him for entering into the political fray and inciting political protest. Colorado Senator Julio Osvaldo Dominguez Wilson Smith (son of ODD) has essentially defected from the Colorado Party and aligned himself with the opposition in its condemnation of the Court and Duarte on this issue. -------------- A Referendum on Reelection? -------------- ¶8. (U) Until only recently, Duarte, seemingly unfazed by the criticism, had continued to clamor for a Constituent Assembly to be held in early 2007 availing an opportunity to amend the Constitution and allow him to run for reelection. The Constitution clearly provides that the holding of a Constituent Assembly requires the support of a two-thirds majority in both houses of Congress. Absent the support to gain approval of this bid for a Constituent Assembly at the present moment, Duarte has proposed holding a non-binding popular referendum in November to coincide with municipal elections that would gauge public support for a reform of the Constitution and consequently place greater pressure on the opposition to agree to convening a Constituent Assembly. Given Duarte's sway over the Supreme Court, the opposition has conveyed growing concern Duarte is capable of not only stealing the votes to win such a referendum but then having the Supreme Court decide that is sufficient basis to call for a Constituent Assembly. They also point out the Constitution proscribes the holding of a referendum within 90 days of any other scheduled election. Duarte's supporters argue that holding it the same day would overcome that prohibition. This sets the groundwork for another controversial court decision. -------------- --- Alderete Takes Over as Acting Colorado President -------------- --- ¶9. (U) On 3/13, Duarte was officially recognized as the victor in the Colorado Party Presidential elections. On 3/14, he was officially sworn in and presided over the first session of the newly elected Colorado Executive Board before announcing his anticipated decision to turn the presidency of the party over to its first Vice-President Jose Alderete who, in turn, announced his decision to step down as the Minister of Public Works. Despite the fact that Duarte only presided over the Executive Board for three hours and that then as his first act stepped down as president, the opposition insists that by definition he violated the Constitution. Of course, it bears noting the TSJE set the stage for this controversy when it ruled that Duarte could run for the Party Presidency but could not exercise the office. Duarte decided to claim the Presidency to leave himself open the possibility of invoking or even reclaiming it at some later time in order to designate the Colorado Party's nominee for the Presidential elections if he is unable to run himself. -------------- COMMENT: How Serious a Storm? -------------- ¶10. (U) Duarte's huge win at the ballot box has solidified his stature as the most prominent political player in the country. We hope he will use that capital to invigorate political and economic reform. However, Duarte's decision to assume the Party Presidency and, to continue his calls for a Constituent Assembly cast him as obsessive in his determination to pursue reelection. While there is a case to be made that he violated at least the spirit of the Constitution by assuming the Presidency for three hours, it bears noting that in many respected democracies the leader of the government is also the leader of his party. Ironically, Duarte's strong push for reelection has proven counter productive to date, as it has served a rallying point for the opposition to unite. Duarte will need opposition support to move legislation and the negotiations will likely soon begin, rhetoric and anger aside. CASON