ARGENTINA: OPPOSITION UCR PARTY CONVENTION

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BUENOS AIRES 001978 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR WHA TOM SHANNON, JOHN MAISTO, AND CHARLES SHAPIRO NSC FOR DAN FISK TREASURY FOR DAS NANCY LEE USCINCSO FOR POLAD E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/01/2016 TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREL AR SUBJECT: ARGENTINA: OPPOSITION UCR PARTY CONVENTION HIGHLIGHTS PARTY WEAKNESS REF: BUENOS AIRES 01901 Classified By: CDA, a.i., Michael Matera, Reasons 1.4(b) and (d) ¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY. Although the August 25-26 national convention of the Radical Civic Union (UCR) confirmed that the UCR would remain an opposition party, it also demonstrated the UCR's weakened state because the most significant party leaders failed to attend. Calls by UCR Congressman Federico Storani to expel the Radicales K from the party were rejected by other party leaders -- so it appears that there will not be a formal split for the time being -- although the convention solidified the de facto division of the party. Other elements in the party are opposed to former President Raul Alfonsin and other party leaders' proposal for the UCR to support former Economy Minister Roberto Lavagna for President next year. Party leaders did not decide on candidates for the 2007 elections at the convention, but did grant UCR Party President Roberto Iglesias the power to negotiate electoral accords with Lavagna and other political parties. In the days since the convention, GOA and UCR leaders have exchanged sharp public criticism. END SUMMARY. ¶2. (SBU) Although the August 25-26 national convention of the Radical Civic Union (UCR) confirmed that the UCR would remain an opposition party, it also demonstrated the UCR's weakened state because the most significant party leaders failed to attend. (For more on the current state of the UCR, see reftel.) National UCR party leaders at the convention in the city of Rosario rejected President Kirchner's call to join his ""concertacion"" and stated that the UCR would remain an opposition force. However, the show of unity was overshadowed by the absence of the most important UCR leaders, most notably the Radicales K -- comprising the majority of the UCR Governors and the most important UCR Mayors -- who avoided the gathering on Kirchner's orders. Calls by UCR Congressman Federico Storani to expel the Radicales K from the party were rejected by other party leaders, so it appears that the party will not formally split for the time being, although the convention solidified the de facto division of the party. Socialist Congressmen Hermes 
Binner and Ruben Giustiniani, who are in alliance with the UCR in Santa Fe province, attended the convention, although other Socialist leaders subsequently publicly stated that their attendance did not signify that the Socialist Party (PS) has an alliance with the UCR on a national level. ¶3. (SBU) On the other side of the party, National Senator Rodolfo Terragno refused to attend because of his opposition to former President Raul Alfonsin and other party leaders' proposal for the UCR to support former Economy Minister Roberto Lavagna for President next year. Both Terragno and UCR General Secretary Margarita Stolbizer advocate developing a new party platform before endorsing candidates and favor endorsing a UCR member for President, rather than a Peronist opposition candidate like Lavagna. Party leaders did not decide on candidates for the 2007 elections at the convention, but did grant UCR Party President Roberto Iglesias the power to negotiate electoral accords with Lavagna and other political parties. ¶4. (SBU) In the days since the convention, GOA and UCR leaders have exchanged sharp public criticism. Kirchner held a public event with Mendoza Governor and leading Radicales K member Julio Cobos and portrayed the UCR leaders still in the opposition as representing negative aspects of Argentina's past. Alfonsin countered Kirchner's attacks by contrasting Alfonsin's record fighting for human rights during the military dictatorship to Kirchner's support for Menem's reelection and now-much-criticized privatization campaign in the mid-1990s. ¶5. (C) COMMENT: The Rosario convention marked what looks like the beginning of the end of the UCR as a national political force. In theory, the end of Argentina's traditional party system provides the opportunity for a more BUENOS AIR 00001978 002 OF 002 rational political system to develop. Both of the traditional parties -- the UCR and the Peronist Party (PJ) -- have practiced a clientelistic-style of politics that has prevented new parties from consolidating since the return to democracy in 1983. Third parties that gained traction for a short period of time, such as the UcDe in the 1980s and Frepaso in the 1990s, largely disappeared after being coaxed into alliances with one of the traditional parties. The traditional parties have lacked ideological coherence, as left-wing and right-wing elements have coexisted under the same party logo. However, despite President Kirchner's rhetoric to the contrary, Argentina does not appear to be any closer to developing a rational system of center-right and center-left parties. Kirchner's poaching of the UCR and other minor parties have netted him both left-wing and right-wing leaders, and the remaining opposition is spread across the ideological spectrum. The health of Argentina's democratic system is the main loser in this political development, as the opposition has become even weaker as a result. END COMMENT. MATERA