Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06MANAGUA179
2006-01-25 16:00:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Managua
Cable title:  

ASSEMBLY PRESIDENT GOMEZ: EQUILIBRIUM AND

Tags:  KDEM NU PGOV PINR PREL KCOR 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO1884
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DE RUEHMU #0179/01 0251600
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 251600Z JAN 06
FM AMEMBASSY MANAGUA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 5019
INFO RUEHZA/WHA CENTRAL AMERICAN COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RUEHLMC/MILLENNIUM CHALLENGE CORP WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC PRIORITY
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 MANAGUA 000179 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR WHA/CEN

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/25/2016
TAGS: KDEM NU PGOV PINR PREL KCOR
SUBJECT: ASSEMBLY PRESIDENT GOMEZ: EQUILIBRIUM AND
LEGISLATION KEY PRIORITIES

REF: MANAGUA 00085

Classified By: Ambassador Paul A. Trivelli. Reasons 1.4 (B,D).

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 MANAGUA 000179

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR WHA/CEN

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/25/2016
TAGS: KDEM NU PGOV PINR PREL KCOR
SUBJECT: ASSEMBLY PRESIDENT GOMEZ: EQUILIBRIUM AND
LEGISLATION KEY PRIORITIES

REF: MANAGUA 00085

Classified By: Ambassador Paul A. Trivelli. Reasons 1.4 (B,D).


1. (C) Summary: Newly elected National Assembly President
Eduardo Gomez Lopez (APRE) promises to instill equilibrium on
the Assembly Junta and focus on the business of lawmaking.
His legislative priorities coincide with those of President
Bolanos and USG interests: passage of economic legislation
required for CAFTA and the Millennium Challenge Corporation;
destruction of MANPADS and improved national security
legislation; and, social legislation that benefits the
Nicaraguan people rather than only furthering the political
objectives of the Sandinistas. Gomez seeks an equitable
distribution of committee chairs among all Assembly caucuses,
opposes amnesty for Liberal Constitutional Party (PLC) leader
Arnoldo Aleman, and frets that the continued disunity among
Nicaraguan's non-FSLN political forces could lead to an
Ortega victory in November. Personable, introspective, and
soft spoken, Gomez may find his new post daunting, as more
aggressive junta members try to run roughshod over his
authority in their attempt to advance legislation to their
political liking. End Summary.

Gomez Promises to Work Hard, Do Right By All"
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -


2. (C) In his January 23 meeting with Ambassador, DCM, and
polcouns, newly elected National Assembly President Eduardo
Gomez Lopez (reftel),associated with pro-Bolanos party APRE,
he outlined his plans and legislative priorities for the new
Assembly board of directors (Junta). Defining himself as a
man who intends to "do right by all and to do no harm to
anyone," Gomez promised to instill "equilibrium" on the
Assembly Junta, so it can down to the business of lawmaking.
Gomez asserted he will "exert pressure" and impose his
position as Junta president in a fair and judicious manner.
To start off right, Gomez will meet with the Junta and caucus
leaders January 24 to define procedures, legislative

priorities, and discuss the chairing of Assembly committees.
Gomez related that he had gotten PLC buy-in to cede a few
committee chair positions to the smaller caucuses; he is
hopeful that the FSLN will also agree to this.


3. (C) Gomez shared that he will advocate for professionalism
and inclusion on the drafting and deliberation of
legislation, noting his legislative priorities are in line
with those of President Bolanos, with whom he recently met.
Priorities include a package of economic laws -including
those required for CAFTA and the MCC; the judicial career
law; national security legislation; and social legislation
that benefits the Nicaraguan people rather than only
furthering the political objectives of the Sandinistas. He
also seeks an equitable distribution of committee chairs
among all Assembly caucuses, including the smaller blocs.


4. (C) Ambassador provided Gomez a list of legislation of
particular interest to the U.S., underscoring that CAFTA and
MCC legislation, resolving the MANPADS destruction, and the
passage of a sound penal code are among our priorities He
offered to provide U.S. technical assistance to the Assembly
to help with the drafting process. Welcoming the assistance,
Gomez sought regular meetings with us on these matters.

The FSLN Sows Discord on the Referendum
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5. (C) To Gomez, the Sandinista reaction to President
Bolanos' suggestion of holding a referendum on a number of
constitutional changes, was predictable. The Sandinistas
will continue to spur dissent and conflict because that is
what they are best at, explained Gomez. Nonetheless, Gomez
believes that both popular and Assembly support for a
referendum is noteworthy, and he endorses the initiative.

Overcoming Liberal Disunity
- - - - - - - - - - - - - -


6. (C) Gomez voiced concern over the continuing Liberal
disunity, warning that it plays in the hands of the
Sandinistas and increases Ortega's chances to win in
November. He believes, however, that the PLC is not viable
until/unless Aleman loosens his total grip on the party.
Although Gomez first ventured that former VP Jose Rizo will
likely be the PLC presidential candidate, he retracted this
view after his assistant Reynaldo Molina asserted that Aleman
is vengeful and he will never allow Rizo to run because Rizo
tried to "destroy" Aleman and the PLC in the past. As for
Herty Lewites, Gomez predicted that Herty will rejoin Ortega
later in the race and run for the FSLN VP slot.


7. (C) Gomez was inclined to believe Eduardo Montealegre
(ALN-PC) is the best Liberal option to defeat Ortega, but he
expressed doubts about some of Montealegre's supporters. He
cited Assembly deputy Yamileth Bonilla, former member of the
Nicaraguan communist party, ex-Sandinista, and once an Aleman
devotee (and reported paramour) and Eliseo Nunez, who was
removed from his position in the Nicaraguan Consulate in New
York for alleged malfeasance. Gomez was even more critical
of APRE-affiliated presidential candidate Jose Antonio
Alvarado -- who when it suits him, exploits APRE resources to
his benefit, and when it doesn't, distances himself from APRE
and associates with the PLC.


8. (U) BIO: From the department of Chinandega, Eduardo Gomez
is an Agronomy Engineer. He has worked most of his life in
private industry, particularly in the field of agriculture
and the cattle industry. As a politician, Gomez has been
affiliated with the Liberal Party (PLC and preceding Liberal
Parties) since the 70's. He represented the private sector
for Chinandega during the FSLN government. In 1990, he
joined the Union Nacional Opositora (UNO),through which
Violeta Chamorro was elected President of Nicaragua. In the
National Elections of 1996, Mr. Gomez worked for the PLC,
supporting the candidacy of Arnoldo Aleman for President. In
2001, he had the opportunity to support the electoral
campaign of Enrique Bolanos, in which employed his
considerable campaigning skills. He also ran for the
National Assembly as Deputy representing Chinandega and won.

Comment
- - - -


9. (C) Gomez is the first National Assembly president in
Nicaraguan history to have been elected unanimously. He can
use this to his advantage. His visible interest in working
with us on this year's legislative agenda is encouraging, and
we expect to meet regularly with him. However, given his
personable, introspective, and soft spoken demeanor, Gomez
may find his new post daunting, as more aggressive junta
members try to run roughshod over his authority in their
attempt to advance their own legislative priorities --
including amnesty for Aleman.
TRIVELLI