IN TELEVISA FORUM, ANALYSTS JUDGE CANDIDATES

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 04 MEXICO 001124 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS STATE FOR WHA/MEX, WHA/EPSC STATE PASS USAID FOR LAC:MARK CARRATO TREASURY FOR IA MEXICO DESK: JASPER HOEK COMMERCE FOR ITA/MAC/NAFTA: ANDREW RUDMAN E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ECON EFIN EINV PGOV PINR MX SUBJECT: IN TELEVISA FORUM, ANALYSTS JUDGE CANDIDATES PROPOSALS AS RADICAL (AMLO),COHERENT (CALDERON),AND VAGUE (MADRAZO) -------------- SUMMARY -------------- ¶1. (SBU) Mexican broadcaster Televisa created a TV program in which a group of well-known and respected analysts and think tanks study and comment on various proposals made by the three main presidential candidates. The analysts concluded that none of the proposals of the three candidates would pose major risks to the countrys economy, but found Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador (AMLO) to be somewhat radical, Felipe Calderon coherent, and Roberto Madrazo unclear and redundant. End summary. -------------- DIALOGUES FOR MEXICO -------------- ¶2. (SBU) Televisa, one of the two main broadcasters in Mexico, produced a show called Dialogues for Mexico aimed at analyzing the various proposals made by the three major presidential candidates. Televisa created a technical committee that analyzed the proposals sent in writing by the candidates. The technical committee is made up of twelve prominent analysts and intellectuals, including Luis Rubio, President of the Center of Research for Development (CIDE),Luis de la Calle, former NAFTA negotiator and current Director General of a consulting firm; and Jesus Reyes Heroles, CEO of Associated Economists Group (GEA). The candidates answered a questionnaire on the economy, combating poverty, education, health, public security, and legal certainty. The candidates were also provided time to present, in different shows, their proposals to a panel of three members of the technical committee. A group of analysts and specialists in different areas of public policy then commented on the candidates proposals. -------------- AMLOS CONTRADICTORY OFFERS -------------- ¶3. (SBU) Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador (AMLO),of the Party of the Democratic Revolution (PRD),tried to assuage concerns over his position on state intervention in the economy. He said he believed in a balance between the governments social responsibility and the countrys development needs, and between public and private investment to accomplish this. To the relief of those who �A;were questioning whether AMLO was going to be more like Brazils Lula or Venezuelas Chavez, AMLO mentioned that Mexico could learn from Chile, which has a strong record of economic development and social justice. ¶4. (SBU) However, AMLOs various contradictory statements ements and unclear proposals that seemed to focus on vast government spending programs have some worried. In a comment typical of AMLOs contradictory statements, he told the analysts that he would say yes to globalization, but as long as national producers were protected. AMLO stated that he would promote transparency first by respecting the law, second by providing information to the public if requested, and third by making government officers earnings and assets public. A lynchpin of AMLOs plan is to generate savings of up to 1.5% of GDP by eliminating corruption and waste in government expenditures. AMLO said he would also eliminate many high-level government jobs for a savings of MP 100 billion (hes not clear as to whether this figure is included in the 1.5% figure he has also cited). Analysts challenged AMLO, saying that elimination of 8,000 government positions (analysts estimate of the potential number of high-level jobs to be eliminated) would ) would yield savings of just MP 16 billion, even at MP 2 million per job per year. AMLO responded, implausibly, that the other MP 84 billion would come from eliminating benefits and privileges. ¶5. (SBU) AMLO would like to channel these savings to poverty-reduction and public works programs. AMLO has focused much of his attention on economic development in southern states. Among his ideas is a plan to plant a MEXICO 00001124 002 OF 004 million hectares of trees in order to stop importing wood and provide employment in communities in Oaxaca, Chiapas, Veracruz, Tabasco, Campeche, and Quintana Roo. In addition, AMLO would invest heavily in infrastructure in the southern parts of the country. Another AMLO priority will be the continuation of his pension program for senior citizens and scholarships for the working poor. -------------- AMLOS ENERGY, TAX, AND PENSIONS REFORMS -------------- ¶6. (SBU) When asked how he would reduce energy prices and d how he would compensate Pemex for mandated reductions oil transfer prices (the price at which Pemex Exploration sells crude oil to Pemex Refining),AMLO was unclear and responded that he would construct refineries to stop importing gasoline. On the fiscal reform issue, AMLO said he would restructure the government, eliminate corruption, combat existing tax evasion, and bring the informal economy into tax compliance by simplifying the procedure to collect taxes. Taxpayers would be audited through a random mechanism. Then, he would summon a democratic forum to examine how to reform fiscal policy (disregarding the recommendations generated by the National Fiscal Convention that took place two years ago, most of which were ignored). AMLO also plans to help ease the public pensions crisis by eliminating pensions for former presidents. AMLO is confident that he could reform the Mexican Social Security Institute (IMSS) pension system and federal government workers (ISSSTE) pension system by reaching agreements with unions and workers, something the current administration has failed to accomplish. -------------- CALDERONS FIVE MAIN PROPOSALS -------------- ¶7. (SBU) National Action Party (PAN) candidate Felipe Calderon has based his campaign on five themes: rule of law and public security; a competitive economy; equal opportunities for all; sustainable development; and a transparent and democratic political system. For Calderon the priorities would be the rule of law, infrastructure with new highways and a housing program using public and private resources, and health and education services for everyone. To make the economy more competitive, Calderon favors: private investment in the energy sector; a lower general flat tax rate for consumption and income, eliminating tax exemptions; and a more flexible labor market. To accomplish needed consensus in Congress, he would create a coalition government and will work on an alternative agenda that doesnt need Congressional approval, in case he cannot pass needed reforms through Congress. ¶8. (SBU) Calderon expressed to the analysts his belief in free markets. While he acknowledged the governments regulatory role, he would like to reduce the regulatory burden on individuals and businesses. To combat poverty, Calderon would increase spending on health, education, infrastructure, telecommunications, and basic services for rural areas, using increased revenues to be gained through comprehensive fiscal reform. He would continue Foxs successful social programs and has pledged to maintain macroeconomic stability. -------------- CALDERONS PENSION REFORM -------------- ¶9. (SBU) Calderon proposes individualized pension accounts for government employees, a proposal that has been on the table during the current administration, but has failed to to pass congress. He will negotiate with unions, but has made it clear that the national interest was above the narrow interests of unions. Calderon proposes to raise the minimum retirement age as one means of addressing large pension shortfalls. He would also study possible contingency plans to provide health services, should health MEXICO 00001124 003 OF 004 care workers strike against modifications to their absurdly generous contracts. -------------- MADRAZOS CHALLENGE -------------- ¶10. (SBU) Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI) candidate Roberto Madrazos big challenge is to convince voters that his party has changed and that the PRI is serious about fighting corruption. To stimulate the economy, Madrazo proposes comprehensive fiscal reform, combined with increases in public investments. His main economic proposals are infrastructure investments combining public and private resources, investment in R&D, and a clear fiscal policy (whatever that means). Madrazo promises to to control public deficits and inflation. Like AMLO, Madrazo praised the Chilean model to combat poverty and said he would continue Foxs housing program. -------------- WHICH REFORMS WOULD MADRAZO SUPPORT? -------------- ¶11. (SBU) In his written proposal Madrazo mentions structural reforms, but when analysts questioned him about the PRIs reluctance to support those changes in Congress, he alleged that PRI lawmakers didnt pass such reforms because they didnt see a long-term vision from Foxs administration. Madrazo said he would support labor and energy reforms, but failed to elaborate more on his proposals. Madrazo didnt address how he would gain the support of unions (largely PRI creations and long-time PRI supporters) to pass needed reforms. On pensions reforms, he would maintain gained privileges, but would modify the regime for new workers. -------------- ANALYSTS COMMENTS ON PROPOSALS -------------- -------------- ¶12. (SBU) The analysts agreed that despite the written documents sent by the three candidates and the interviews held, the three candidates proposals are still very general and lacking in detail. Felipe Calderon has been the most explicit and coherent, while AMLO has been the most radical, stating that the current economic model should be modified. Madrazo has preferred playing it safe, remaining vague while trying to portray himself as centrist. Calderon clearly favors free markets, while AMLO supports greater state intervention in the economy. Madrazo purposely avoids elaborating further on his positions so as not to offend any potential voters. ¶13. (SBU) Calderon is in favor of the big structural reforms, while the other two candidates focus on less controversial changes. None of them clearly explains how he would finance their proposed investments in infrastructure or on what projects and how they would combine public and private resources. To raise government revenues Madrazo and Calderon propose better tax administration, while AMLO bets on the elimination of corruption. All three candidates agree, unsurprisingly, that the economy needs to improve. The most comforting conclusion of this exercise is that the analysts didnt find any major risks to economic stability in the candidates various proposals and answers. -------------- COMMENT -------------- ¶14. (SBU) This Televisa-led excerise was useful in providing a relatively unbiased airing and assessment of the candidates proposals. However, the conclusions reached were not particularly surprising. Sadly, a central conclusion that the proposals all lack needed details is a fact of modern campaigns around the world. That none of the candidates, based on their responses, poses a risk to MEXICO 00001124 004 OF 004 economic stability is encouraging, but not necessarily an optimistic assessment. This conclusion will likely most help AMLO as he is the candidate most criticized for policies that may be destabilizing for the economy. End nd Comment. GARZA