MAS CONGRESS: SIGNS OF RADICALIZATION

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 LA PAZ 003063 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/15/2016 TAGS: ECON PGOV PREL BL SUBJECT: MAS CONGRESS: SIGNS OF RADICALIZATION Classified By: Ecopol Counselor Andrew Erickson for reason 1.4 (b). ¶1. (C) Summary: At its annual congress in Cochabamba November 11-13, President Morales' Movement Toward Socialism (MAS) party re-elected Morales as the party leader, after which he chastised the party for infighting. The congress then decided to tighten party discipline and declare that MAS politicians are subservient to social organizations. As Morales struggles to gain political control over the diverse interests of his party, he appears to be moving further away from democratic principles and closer to an authoritarian approach to party governance and discipline. End summary. -------------- STOP BICKERING AND SHOW YOUR MAS PARTY CARD -------------- ¶2. (SBU) At its annual congress in Cochabamba November 11-13, President Morales' Movement Toward Socialism (MAS) party re-elected Morales as the party leader, a position he has held since 1999. In his opening speech, Morales chastised his party for its political infighting and criticized party members for opportunistically seeking GOB jobs. Morales said that he will not give in to these pressures, and noted that internal fighting is "one of our weaknesses." At the same time, however, Morales asked MAS party members to help identify federal workers who "prejudice the government," saying "that type of worker has to go." Morales declared that the GOB wants people who are "faithful to the changes in Bolivia" and called for the resignation of all local government officials who do not support GOB policies. (Note: Press reports have stated that MAS officials have begun "examining" public offices to verify that government officials are active MAS members. End note). -------------- TIGHTENING THE REINS -------------- ¶3. (SBU) The congress also issued a proclamation intended to tighten party discipline, stating that MAS deputies and Constituent Assembly (CA) representatives who do not follow MAS principles will be sent to the MAS ethics commission or "honor tribunal" to be sanctioned. In his speech, Morales called certain MAS members of congress "traitors" (also lumping former President Rodriguez into this category, presumably for the MANPADS transfer). In less than a week, the MAS has expelled two members of congress from its ranks-- Guillermo Beckar for publicly accusing Morales' minister of public works of corruption, and Victor Mena for allegedly organizing the latest round of mining protests (and for defending the private mining sector). Morales accused the two of a "lack of discipline and disloyalty." The MAS leader in the lower house, Cesar Navarro, echoed Morales' statements, saying the MAS must prevent its deputies from offering their individual opinions. While Beckar has declared himself independent, Mena said publicly that the incident was a misunderstanding and that he'll do what it takes to regain Morales' confidence. One opposition member said the MAS proclamation is just another sign that the MAS' elected representatives have neither voice nor vote. -------------- SOCIAL SECTORS TO CALL THE SHOTS -------------- ¶4. (SBU) The MAS congress also declared the subservience of MAS politicians to social organizations, stating that such organizations will now control the Constituent Assembly. The MAS declared that its primary goal is to pressure the CA to ensure social and political change and instituted a new rule that MAS CA delegates must give monthly reports to social sectors. MAS leaders threatened to demonstrate if the opposition does not want "to advance democratic practices." LA PAZ 00003063 002 OF 002 The opposition, in response, publicly criticized the MAS for "compromising the independence of the CA." -------------- COMMENT: SIGNS OF RADICALIZATION -------------- ¶5. (C) As Morales struggles to gain political control over the diverse interests of his party, he appears to be moving further away from democratic principles and closer to an authoritarian playbook (see septel on the MAS' posture regarding the Constituent Assembly). By catering to the demands of social organizations, he has implicitly endorsed a potential role by the mob, with the democratically-elected government presumably calling the shots from behind the scenes through manipulation of social sector organizations who would assert "discipline" over individual party members. However, President Morales' rhetoric is not always consistent with his subsequent follow-up, nor is his ability to control events. His curious decision to expel Victor Mena from the MAS for Mena's support of the very social sector organizations the MAS claims as its ultimate leadership demonstrates the schizophrenia of the president's position. By this analysis, Morales appears to be engaged in a delicate balancing act with social organizations, some of which he controls, others which he does not. He wants to use the sectors he controls to assert dominance over his party, but he will maintain the last word. End comment. GOLDBERG