CARACAS MAYORAL TIRADE HIGHLIGHTS POLITICAL

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 CARACAS 002620 SIPDIS SIPDIS HQSOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD DEPT PASS TO AID/OTI RPORTER E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/18/2016 TAGS: PGOV KDEM VE SUBJECT: CARACAS MAYORAL TIRADE HIGHLIGHTS POLITICAL TENSIONS CARACAS 00002620 001.2 OF 002 Classified By: POLITICAL COUNSELOR ROBERT DOWNES FOR 1.4 (D) ¶1. (C) Summary. Metropolitan Mayor Juan Barreto used the podium at an August 22 public event to obscenely berate the popular opposition mayors of Chacao and Baruta, Leopoldo Lopez and Henrique Capriles Radonski. Barreto's assault on two of Venezuela's most charismatic anti-Chavez leaders embarrassed even Chavez's party, which forced Barreto to issue an apology two days later. This vitriolic call to arms by a prominent Chavez loyalist may signal a broader, class-based battle to come in the December 3 presidential elections. End Summary. ¶2. (C) Caracas Metropolitan Mayor Juan Barreto used the August 22 gathering of the Metropolitan Council for Planning of Public Policies to launch an extended and tasteless tirade against Mayor Lopez of Chacao and Mayor Capriles Radonski of Baruta, even going so far as to allegedly spit in Capriles' face. Both Capriles and Lopez are rising stars in the Primero Justicia (PJ) opposition party. ¶3. (SBU) At the swearing-in ceremony for Council members (including the metro Caracas mayors),Barreto launched an all-out declaration of war against the opposition, the middle class (calling them "putrid") and private property rights. Press noted that they had to filter, based on the law, the many obscenities and sexual allusions in Barreto's rants before printing excerpts. Barreto expressed his support for a proposed increase in private property expropration, declared he would "expropriate entire municipalities" if necessary and claimed he had already received approval to take over a private golf course to build a housing project there (septel). ¶4. (SBU) Capriles and Lopez did not respond to Barreto's personal insults at the event packed by Chavistas, but the opposition publicized and capitalized on Barreto's onslaught afterwards. Fellow party member and former presidential candidate Julio Borges called for Barreto's resignation. The two mayors themselves announced they would press charges for defamation and inciting hatred which could have led to mob violence. NGOs such as Foro por la Vida and Provea have also denounced the episode, likening his outburst to the type of rhetoric that contributed to the political polarization, deaths and violence in 2002 and 2003. ¶5. (SBU) During a subsequent session of the Council on August 24, Barreto accused the media of impartially reporting his outburst. When the two PJ mayors arrived late -- having been delayed by Barreto's police -- Barreto called for a vote of the councilmembers to determine whether they should be allowed to attend as observers. When the two opposition mayors were finally allowed to enter, Barreto continued to harass them verbally, although without the blue language. At one point, he assured Capriles and Lopez that DISIP (intelligence police) were waiting outside preparing to wage an assault against them. ¶6. (SBU) Even some Fifth Revolutionary Movement (MVR) officials appeared offended by Barreto's foul language. Party officials led by Miranda Governor Diosdado Cabello on August 24 demanded that Barreto apologize or risk expulsion from the party. Barreto issued such "apology" by expressing regret if the middle class was offended by his speech. He simultaneously charged the media with creating confrontation and twisting his words and proceeded to label the opposition mayors as unethical, cowardly and fascist. On August 28, the party announced it would open an investigation to determine the future of Barreto within the party. ¶7. (C) Comment. Barreto has a long leash to attack the CARACAS 00002620 002.2 OF 002 opposition, but in this case, he appears to have crossed the line. However, the class-struggle behind Barreto's discourse is still likely to be a common theme that hardline Chavistas will deploy and exploit in this presidential election campaign. This war of words in Caracas may be just a snapshot of what's to come. WHITAKER