CAMINO CRISTIANO LEADER DIGS IN HEELS OVER PLC

C O N F I D E N T I A L MANAGUA 000931

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR WHA/CEN

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/28/2016
TAGS: PGOV PINR PREL KDEM NU
SUBJECT: CAMINO CRISTIANO LEADER DIGS IN HEELS OVER PLC

REF: MANAGUA 0709

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


1. (C) Camino Cristiano (CCN) leader/National Assembly
Deputy, Reverend Guillermo Osorno, appears likely to
formalize an alliance with the Liberal Constitutional Party
(PLC). In his April 27 meeting with Ambassador to discuss
the feasibility of multi-party primaries (Reftel),Osorno
opined that it is too late in the game for primaries, but
perhaps negotiations remain an option. He related that the
CCN had recently signed a letter of intent to ally with the
PLC, but the agreement is not yet formal and his party still
has time to change its mind.


2. (C) Osorno claimed that he is no fan of PLC leader
Arnoldo Aleman and his inner circle and doubts their
sincerity that they have promised to run a clean government.
However, he argued that only the PLC, with its experience,
party machinery, and vast infrastructure can beat FSLN
presidential candidate Daniel Ortega. Moreover, the PLC
enjoys representation on the Supreme Electoral Council (CSE)
and thus can defend its votes, while the other democratic
parties, like the CCN, APRE, and Eduardo Montealegre's ALN,
are "helpless."


3. (C) Osorno suggested that the Embassy could strike a deal
with the PLC that would lead to Aleman's eventual loss of
control of the party. In his view, our latest visa
revocation of a PLC member (National Assembly Deputy Donald
Lacayo, who heads the Assembly's Ethics Committee) is working
against U.S. interests because the PLC is now less likely to
cooperate on legislative issues. The Ambassador replied that
we have endeavored for years to distance Aleman from the PLC
and he has been intransigent, as has his inner circle. He
warned Osorno that allying with Aleman is a mistake and
suggested that Osorno would be better off supporting a
democratic alternative.


4. (C) Comment: President Bolanos tells us the Osorno is one
the "most expensive" National Assembly votes, expecting that
in return for his vote on a particular issue, three or four
of his relatives will land government jobs. Osorno's party
is in large part a family operation (the three Camino
Cristiano members who accompanied him for the meeting with
the Ambassador are all his relatives.) The other Camino
Cristiano Assembly Deputy, Delia Arellano, has openly sided
with Eduardo Montealegre and votes with his ALN-PC bloc. If
the Camino Cristiano allies with Aleman, such an alignment
might not represent much of a loss for Montealegre, as
Osorno's (whose nickname is "soborno," or "bribe") reputation
is clearly not an asset for a candidate running on a clean
government platform. End Comment.

TRIVELLI