Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06SAOPAULO1176
2006-11-08 12:55:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Consulate Sao Paulo
Cable title:  

MEDIA REACTION: WESTERN HEMISPHERE: NICARAGUA ELECTIONS;

Tags:  KMDR OPRC OIIP ETRD BR 
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VZCZCXYZ0024
OO RUEHWEB

DE RUEHSO #1176 3121255
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 081255Z NOV 06
FM AMCONSUL SAO PAULO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 6030
INFO RHEHNSC/NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL WASHDC IMMEDIATE
RUEHBR/AMEMBASSY BRASILIA PRIORITY 7090
RUEHRI/AMCONSUL RIO DE JANEIRO PRIORITY 7570
RUCPDOC/USDOC WASHDC 2611
UNCLAS SAO PAULO 001176 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE INR/R/MR; IIP/R/MR; WHA/PD

DEPT PASS USTR

USDOC 4322/MAC/OLAC/JAFEE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KMDR OPRC OIIP ETRD BR
SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION: WESTERN HEMISPHERE: NICARAGUA ELECTIONS;
SAO PAULO


UNCLAS SAO PAULO 001176

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE INR/R/MR; IIP/R/MR; WHA/PD

DEPT PASS USTR

USDOC 4322/MAC/OLAC/JAFEE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KMDR OPRC OIIP ETRD BR
SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION: WESTERN HEMISPHERE: NICARAGUA ELECTIONS;
SAO PAULO



1. "Tunnel Of Time"

Liberal, largest national circulation daily Folha de S. Paulo
editorialized (11/8): "Daniel Ortega was elected Nicaragua's
president 16 years after having left the government. The Sandinista
Front leader says he has changed, disowns his Marxist past and
declares himself a pragmatic politician.... However, the White House
did not believe in Ortega's 'conversion' and openly campaigned for
Eduardo Montealegre, the liberal-conservative candidate. U.S.
Ambassador in Nicaragua Paul Trivelli acted like a member of the
campaign staff, and Florida's Governor Jeb Bush sent a letter to a
Nicaraguan daily, warning against the consequences of a Sandinista
return. Even characters thought to be relegated to Cold War's
history books, such as Oliver North, reemerged and visited Managua
to campaign against Ortega.... It is not only the past that sharpens
the US suspicion vis-`-vis the Sandinistas. Currently, the links
between Ortega and Venezuelan President Hugo Chvez are a reason for
Washington's concern. In fact, the US was not the only one to openly
intervene in the Nicaraguan elections. Chvez supplied subsidized
gasoline to Sandinista politicians. The fact is that Ortega won the
presidential dispute in a democratic election that was monitored by
international observers. It is expected that the US, which for
decades has been trying to convince the world about the importance
of democracy, knows how to respect the election returns and give
Ortega a chance to govern."


2. "Ortega Returns To Power"


An editorial in center-right O Estado de S. Paulo commented (11/8):
"Former dictator Daniel Ortega was elected president of Nicaragua in
an election that observers from the OAS, the EU and the Carter
Center considered clean. After three frustrated attempts to return
to power, Ortega learned with Colonel Hugo Chvez how to mount an
election without raising suspicions.... [But] Ortega carefully
avoided any public association with Chvez so that the mistakes
committed by the Bolivarian leader in Mexico, Peru and Ecuador were
not repeated.... Last, but not the least, Ortega learned from Chvez
that elections must be won even before the first ballot is
deposited. And that everything is valid for that purpose.... But
Ortega's victory is not only due to the cleverness learned from
Chvez to mold laws and institutions according to his interests.
The front runner candidate - who would have certainly won the
elections - former Managua's Mayor Herty Lewites, died in July....
In addition, the US Ambassador's interference - who tried to unify
the opposition parties - had on voters the same effect that Chvez's
support produced in Mexico, Peru and Ecuador: led them to vote in
Ortega.... Daniel Ortega won the elections with a large margin. And
now, Colonel Hugo Chvez leads the Caracas-Havana-La Paz-Managua
axis." McMullen