Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06LAPAZ167
2006-01-23 21:00:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy La Paz
Cable title:  

MORALES INAUGURATION SPEECH: A MIXED BAG

Tags:  PGOV PREL ECON BL 
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P 232100Z JAN 06
FM AMEMBASSY LA PAZ
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 7837
INFO RUEHAC/AMEMBASSY ASUNCION 5533
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RHEHNSC/NSC WASHINGTON DC
RHMFIUU/HQ USSOUTHCOM MIAMI FL
UNCLAS LA PAZ 000167 

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL ECON BL
SUBJECT: MORALES INAUGURATION SPEECH: A MIXED BAG

UNCLAS LA PAZ 000167

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL ECON BL
SUBJECT: MORALES INAUGURATION SPEECH: A MIXED BAG


1. (SBU) Summary. Evo Morales' January 22 inauguration
speech was many things: long, rambling and inconsistent, but
also direct, passionate and heartfelt. He celebrated
international support for his government from the United
States, Venezuela and Cuba. But in a less-than-presidential
manner, he also criticized a wide swath of Bolivian society,
including previous governments, the press, and the National
Electoral Court. The mixed signals from Morales' speech make
it difficult to tell whether he will govern democratically,
in the interests of the poor and oppressed, or follow a more
autocratic path. End summary.


2. (SBU) Evo Morales' January 22 inauguration speech was many
things: long, rambling and inconsistent, but also direct,
passionate and heartfelt. Morales spoke for almost two
hours, much of it without notes. He swerved from one topic
to another, at times falling back on familiar campaign stump
speeches. In his remarks, riddled with inconsistencies,
Morales declared his intent to work with the United States to
fight narcotrafficking, but later stated that the United
States should not use cocaine "as an excuse to dominate our
people," and that Bolivia would pursue "dialogue without
conditions, without blackmail." Likewise, while recognizing
the importance of free trade, he called for an end to
"radical neoliberalism." At the same time, Morales' remarks
came across as passionate and heartfelt, particularly when he
spoke about exclusion of Bolivia's indigenous and poverty.
His resolve to bring about change in Bolivia was clear in his
statement that "parliament will be the army of national
liberation, of the battle for the second independence; if it
doesn't do it, the social movements will."


3. (U) Morales celebrated international support for his
government, from the United States (citing the presence of
WHA A/S Tom Shannon as evidence of such),Venezuela and Cuba.
He thanked Cuba and Venezuela for their aid in fighting
illiteracy in Bolivia, and gave a special nod to Chile by
explicitly recognizing President Lagos' attendance.


4. (SBU) At times during his speech, Morales also came across
as less than presidential, as though he were still a
candidate on the stump. He criticized previous governments,
the press, and the National Electoral Court. He attacked
Jorge "Tuto" Quiroga (implicitly) for leaving Bolivia to live
in the United States and returning to re-enter politics,
former President Jaime Paz Zamora for corruption, and former
Presidents Gonzalo Sanchez de Lozada and Carlos Mesa Gisbert
for their role in Bolivia's "neoliberal" failures. Despite
his overwhelming win on December 18, he also repeated his
charge against the National Electoral Court for allegedly
allowing MAS voters to be turned away from the polls.
Finally, he chastised the media, which was sometimes critical
of him during the campaign, for "attacking" him prior to the
election, labeling them as "terrorists."


5. (SBU) Comment: The mixed signals from Morales' speech
make it difficult to tell whether he will govern
democratically, in the interests of the poor and oppressed,
or follow a more autocratic path. Depending on which parts
of Morales' speech are highlighted, it could be seen as a
positive beginning with some appropriate signals for the
international community, or viewed, based on its more ominous
notes, as a sign of a darker future for Bolivian democracy.
Morales' unpolished comments revealed his inexperience, but
also his belief that he can bring about drastic change by
alleviating poverty and discrimination. Unfortunately, his
rhetoric did not provide any concrete indications regarding
how he might do this. In the next few weeks, we'll see which
parts of his speech reflect his true intentions. End
comment.

GREENLEE