Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06LAPAZ1891
2006-07-11 14:26:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy La Paz
Cable title:
FINAL ELECTION RESULTS: "MAS" OF THE SAME
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C O N F I D E N T I A L LA PAZ 001891
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR WHA/AND L.PETRONI
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/10/2016
TAGS: ECON PGOV PREL BL
SUBJECT: FINAL ELECTION RESULTS: "MAS" OF THE SAME
Classified By: Amb. David N. Greenlee for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L LA PAZ 001891
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR WHA/AND L.PETRONI
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/10/2016
TAGS: ECON PGOV PREL BL
SUBJECT: FINAL ELECTION RESULTS: "MAS" OF THE SAME
Classified By: Amb. David N. Greenlee for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (C) Summary: Final July 2 Constituent Assembly election
results gave the Movement Toward Socialism (MAS) party 137 of
255 seats and ensured several opposition parties, including
Podemos and National Unity (UN),a significant presence in
the Assembly. In the week following the election, political
hardball has intensified as the MAS looks for ways to reach
the still-elusive two-thirds vote necessary to control
Bolivia's constitutional process. It remains far from
certain, however, that the MAS will reach that pivotal
two-thirds majority. End summary.
2. (SBU) Final July 2 Constituent Assembly election results
gave the Movement Toward Socialism (MAS) party 137, or 53.7
percent, of 255 seats and 50.72 percent of the national vote
(just below the 53.74 percent the MAS won in December 2005).
The MAS won seven of nine departments: Chuquisaca (54 percent
of the vote),La Paz (64 percent),Cochabamba (60 percent),
Oruro (60 percent),Potosi (54 percent),Tarija (40 percent),
and Santa Cruz (26 percent). The MAS' anti-autonomy position
prevailed in the departments of La Paz, Oruro, Chuquisaca,
Cochabamba, and Potosi, with the "media luna" departments
(Santa Cruz, Beni, Pando, and Tarija) supporting departmental
autonomy.
3. (SBU) Several opposition parties will have a significant
presence in the Assembly. Podemos won 60 seats, followed by
the National Revolutionary Movement (MNR) (comprised of the
MNR, Camino al Cambio, and the A3-MNR) with 18, and by the UN
and the Free Bolivia Movement with eight representatives
each. Potosi Mayor Rene Joaquino's Social Alliance (AS) won
six seats, and the National Concertation (an evangelical
Christian citizens' group) won five. Seven other
parties/citizens' groups won three or fewer seats each.
4. (SBU) Unlike in December, no voting centers will be
required to conduct a re-vote due to irregularities. Final
voter turnout was 83.65 percent, almost identical to
December's rate of 84.51 percent.
5. (C) Comment: Post-election political hardball has
intensified as the MAS tries to reach the still-elusive
two-thirds vote necessary to control Bolivia's constitutional
process. Opposition party operators told us the MAS is
attempting to "pick off" their delegates by offering
employment or other incentives and said persons refusing such
offers are "black-balled." The MAS is also continuing
attempts to weaken its opposition, even offering one non-MAS
mayor Bolivia's Embassy in Japan. Because the MAS and social
sectors were calling for La Paz Prefect Jose Luis Paredes'
resignation for supporting autonomy, he canceled his
scheduled trip to the United States, fearing he would be
replaced if he left the country. Likewise, Potosi Mayor
Joaquino believes if he travels to organize his party's
Assembly delegates, MAS loyalists will accuse him of failing
to discharge his duties and demand his resignation. In
short, the MAS machine is moving full steam ahead. While
Morales convened his Assembly representatives last week in
Cochabamba, opposition parties have done little to defend
their ranks, much less organize any real "offense." It
remains far from certain, however, that the MAS will pick off
enough delegates to reach the two-thirds majority it needs.
End comment.
GREENLEE
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR WHA/AND L.PETRONI
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/10/2016
TAGS: ECON PGOV PREL BL
SUBJECT: FINAL ELECTION RESULTS: "MAS" OF THE SAME
Classified By: Amb. David N. Greenlee for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (C) Summary: Final July 2 Constituent Assembly election
results gave the Movement Toward Socialism (MAS) party 137 of
255 seats and ensured several opposition parties, including
Podemos and National Unity (UN),a significant presence in
the Assembly. In the week following the election, political
hardball has intensified as the MAS looks for ways to reach
the still-elusive two-thirds vote necessary to control
Bolivia's constitutional process. It remains far from
certain, however, that the MAS will reach that pivotal
two-thirds majority. End summary.
2. (SBU) Final July 2 Constituent Assembly election results
gave the Movement Toward Socialism (MAS) party 137, or 53.7
percent, of 255 seats and 50.72 percent of the national vote
(just below the 53.74 percent the MAS won in December 2005).
The MAS won seven of nine departments: Chuquisaca (54 percent
of the vote),La Paz (64 percent),Cochabamba (60 percent),
Oruro (60 percent),Potosi (54 percent),Tarija (40 percent),
and Santa Cruz (26 percent). The MAS' anti-autonomy position
prevailed in the departments of La Paz, Oruro, Chuquisaca,
Cochabamba, and Potosi, with the "media luna" departments
(Santa Cruz, Beni, Pando, and Tarija) supporting departmental
autonomy.
3. (SBU) Several opposition parties will have a significant
presence in the Assembly. Podemos won 60 seats, followed by
the National Revolutionary Movement (MNR) (comprised of the
MNR, Camino al Cambio, and the A3-MNR) with 18, and by the UN
and the Free Bolivia Movement with eight representatives
each. Potosi Mayor Rene Joaquino's Social Alliance (AS) won
six seats, and the National Concertation (an evangelical
Christian citizens' group) won five. Seven other
parties/citizens' groups won three or fewer seats each.
4. (SBU) Unlike in December, no voting centers will be
required to conduct a re-vote due to irregularities. Final
voter turnout was 83.65 percent, almost identical to
December's rate of 84.51 percent.
5. (C) Comment: Post-election political hardball has
intensified as the MAS tries to reach the still-elusive
two-thirds vote necessary to control Bolivia's constitutional
process. Opposition party operators told us the MAS is
attempting to "pick off" their delegates by offering
employment or other incentives and said persons refusing such
offers are "black-balled." The MAS is also continuing
attempts to weaken its opposition, even offering one non-MAS
mayor Bolivia's Embassy in Japan. Because the MAS and social
sectors were calling for La Paz Prefect Jose Luis Paredes'
resignation for supporting autonomy, he canceled his
scheduled trip to the United States, fearing he would be
replaced if he left the country. Likewise, Potosi Mayor
Joaquino believes if he travels to organize his party's
Assembly delegates, MAS loyalists will accuse him of failing
to discharge his duties and demand his resignation. In
short, the MAS machine is moving full steam ahead. While
Morales convened his Assembly representatives last week in
Cochabamba, opposition parties have done little to defend
their ranks, much less organize any real "offense." It
remains far from certain, however, that the MAS will pick off
enough delegates to reach the two-thirds majority it needs.
End comment.
GREENLEE