Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06MANAGUA224
2006-01-30 23:09:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Managua
Cable title:  

PLC WRESTS PLUM COMMISSIONS FROM FSLN IN NATIONAL

Tags:  PGOV KDEM NU 
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VZCZCXRO6795
PP RUEHLMC
DE RUEHMU #0224 0302309
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 302309Z JAN 06
FM AMEMBASSY MANAGUA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 5075
INFO RUEHZA/WHA CENTRAL AMERICAN COLLECTIVE
RUEHCV/AMEMBASSY CARACAS 0537
RUEHLMC/MILLENNIUM CHALLENGE CORP WASHDC
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHINGTON DC
C O N F I D E N T I A L MANAGUA 000224 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR WHA/CEN
PANAMA FOR JENNIFER BUCALO

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/30/2016
TAGS: PGOV KDEM NU
SUBJECT: PLC WRESTS PLUM COMMISSIONS FROM FSLN IN NATIONAL
ASSEMBLY

REF: MANAGUA 0085

Classified By: Ambassador Paul Trivelli for reasons 1.4 (b and d)

C O N F I D E N T I A L MANAGUA 000224

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR WHA/CEN
PANAMA FOR JENNIFER BUCALO

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/30/2016
TAGS: PGOV KDEM NU
SUBJECT: PLC WRESTS PLUM COMMISSIONS FROM FSLN IN NATIONAL
ASSEMBLY

REF: MANAGUA 0085

Classified By: Ambassador Paul Trivelli for reasons 1.4 (b and d)


1. (U) Weeks after the official date of the Nicaraguan
National Assembly's annual re-incorporation of its Junta
Directiva and commissions, the deputies finally appointed the
new heads of the commissions. The PLC allied with the
minority caucuses (bancadas) to wrest control of two
important commissions from the Sandinistas: Economics and
Tourism. The results left the PLC with 11 commissions, the
FSLN with 9, the Azul y Blanco bancada will head two, and
Camino Cristiano and ALN-PC received one each. Although each
bancada was granted leadership of at least one commission,
the outcome of the allocation was widely interpreted as a
PLC/Azul y Blanco rebuke to the ALN-PC for resisting a
Liberal compromise slate for the Junta Directiva that did not
include an ALN-PC president (reftel).


2. (U) A list of appointments by party follows:

PLC: 10 permanent and 1 special commissions

Economics Wilfredo Navarro
Transport Oscar Moncada
Education Orlando Mayorga
Justice Noel Pereira
Municipalities Jose Castillo Osejo
Human Rights Maximino Rodriguez
Health Guillermo Montenegro
Tourism Miriam Fonseca
Ethics Donald Lacayo
Indigenous Affairs Leonel Panting
Special Commission Carlos Noguera
for CAFTA

FSLN: 8 permanent and 1 special commissions

Counter-narcotics Ma. Lidia Mejia
Inter Parliamentary Nathan Sevilla
Labor Alba Palacios
Central American
Integration Rita Fletes
Women Albertina Urbina Zelaya
Pop. and Development Emilia Torres
Agricultural Reform Marcelino Garcia
Special Commission on
Poverty Reduction Unassigned

Azul y Blanco: 2 permanent commissions

Foreign Affairs Miguel Lopez Baldizon
Environment Jaime Morales Carazo

CCN: 1 permanent commission

Defense & Government Delia Arellano

ALN-PC: 1 special commission

Inter Institutional Augusto Valle
Affairs


3. (C) COMMENT: On the surface, this slate, like the Junta
Directiva, appears to be a significant improvement over 2005.
Most of the PLC appointees, with a few exceptions such as
Donald Lacayo, are moderate and committed to working with the
USG. On the other hand, the new chief and deputy chief of
the PLC bancada, Lilliam Tabora and Carlos Gadea, are ardent
Arnoldistas. Alba Palacios, a Sandinista agitator, has
retained her position as president of the Labor commission,
which could exacerbate problems for the Bolanos
administration if the FSLN continues to use its control of
the labor guilds to pressure the government in an election
year. Delia Arellano headed the Defense and Government
commission in 2004 and was very helpful in securing National
Assembly cooperation for MANPADS destructions in that year.
She has committed to playing the same role in 2006. Emboffs
will meet with the new Assembly leadership to discuss and
promote legislative agenda items of concern to the USG.
TRIVELLI