FMLN INVOLVES CUBA AND VENEZUELA IN SALVADORAN

C O N F I D E N T I A L SAN SALVADOR 000447 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/22/2026 TAGS: PGOV PTER VE CU ES ELECTIONS SUBJECT: FMLN INVOLVES CUBA AND VENEZUELA IN SALVADORAN NATIONAL ELECTIONS Classified By: DCM Michael Butler. Reasons 1.4 (b,d). ¶1. (C) Summary and Comment: President Saca and other high-ranking GOES officials have recently raised concerns with Ambassador and other Embassy contacts that Cuba and Venezuela are helping the FMLN in the March 12 national elections for deputies and mayors. There are now clear indications that the FMLN and Venezuelan officials are working on a scheme to barter subsidized Venezuelan oil for unspecified "foodstuffs" with FMLN controlled cities and towns. Although this scheme appears totally unworkable, its clear intention is to help the FMLN electorally. Likewise, as the election draws closer, the FMLN is pulling other campaign stops with Cuban and Venezuelan assistance, including promises to medically treat poor Salvadorans in Cuba and Venezuela. There is little indication thus far that these schemes will help the FMLN, except in maintaining its hardcore base. Despite past allegations that Venezuela is providing significant campaign financing to the FMLN, GOES contacts have been unable to provide concrete evidence of that, though they have affirmed that large "in-kind" contributions, such as campaign t-shirts, have been donated by the Peoples' Republic of China. End Summary and Comment. ¶2. (C) During a February 13 meeting with Ambassador, Salvadoran President Saca raised the issue of Venezuelan involvement in El Salvador's March 12 national elections for deputies and mayors. At that time, Saca said that the FMLN and Venezuela had worked out a scheme whereby the FMLN would announce that Venezuela would barter subsidized oil for unspecified "foodstuffs" with FMLN-controlled cities and towns. According to Saca, this scheme would be part of a series of actions orchestrated by the FMLN with Venezuela and Cuba to influence the outcome of the March 1 elections in their favor. Saca explained that the scheme is unworkable on many levels, foremost being that Venezuelan oil would be essentially unrefinable and unstoppable in El Salvador, and that the FMLN knew that. The clear purpose, he concluded, was to confuse the general population and gain important vote margins that would allow the FMLN to maintain enough deputies in the National Assembly to block Saca's legislative agenda for his last three years in office. ¶3. (C) Separately, on February 8, National Electoral Tribunal (TSE) President Walter Araujo confided to Polcouns that the GOES had decided to invite a small delegation from Cuba, headed by Americas Department official Ramiro Abreu, as official observers to the March 12 elections, as one of the international delegations being invited. Araujo reasoned that it would be better to have the Cubans here openly as observers, and felt it would put the Cuban government in a difficult position vis-a-vis the GOES if the GOC had disruptive intentions. Araujo confirmed the invitation to Abreu publicly on February 18. ¶4. (U) On February 17, local press reported that the Venezuelan National Petroleum Agency (PDVSA) and the recently created Intermunicipal Energy Association for El Salvador (ENEPASA),the latter composed of 20 FMLN-controlled municipalities, have announced plans to export up to 80,000 barrels per month of refined oil to El Salvador. Gilmer Gonzalez, who identified himself as a PDVSA executive, was quoted as saying that he has already visited El Salvador's pacific port of Acajutla, which he characterized as having adequate infrastructure for the off-loading of Venezuelan oil. Gonzalez stated that a barter arrangement, possibly in exchange for Salvadoran sugar, was being considered. In line with these negotiations, there is speculation that Venezuela's Energy Minister could visit El Salvador this month to sign an agreement with ENEPASA. Also on February 17, FMLN candidate for San Salvador mayor Violeta Menjivar bid goodbye to 64 poor Salvadorans traveling to Venezuela for free eye surgery sponsored by the Chavez government, and announced that she will provide additional medical care and surgeries to other poor Salvadorans, in Cuba and Venezuela. Butler