BELOVED FATHERLAND PARTY CONFIRMS FADUL'S CANDIDACY

C O N F I D E N T I A L ASUNCION 001045

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

WHA/FO CMCMULLEN, WHA/BSC MDRUCKER, KREAD

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/18/2027
TAGS: PGOV PREL PA
SUBJECT: BELOVED FATHERLAND PARTY CONFIRMS FADUL'S CANDIDACY


Classified By: DCM Michael J. Fitzpatrick; reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).


1. (U) Paraguay's business-oriented Beloved Fatherland Party
(PPQ) held its primary December 16, confirming the unopposed
candidacy of Pedro Fadul for president and Ronald Dietze for
vice president. Approximately 40 percent of the PPQ's 9,908
registered voters turned out to select the party's candidates
for the Senate, Lower House, governors, and Mercosur from
three factions within the party. While final numbers are
still pending, it appears that Fadul's slate of candidates
won overwhelmingly.


2. (C) One PPQ official told PolCouns December 14 that he
believed the Colorados had financed a minority faction within
his party in the hopes of ensuring a PPQ-Colorado alliance.
Because of Colorado Party interference, he said, the PPQ
moved its primary, originally scheduled for January 6, to
December 16, the same day as the Colorado primary.


3. (C) COMMENT: In its 2003 electoral debut, the PPQ won 15
percent of congressional seats; Fadul placed third in the
presidential race with 21 percent of the vote. According to
current polls, the PPQ is not expected to perform as well in
the April 2008 elections. While Fadul is polling between one
and three percent, he is positioning himself for a much
larger share of the vote if former Catholic bishop Fernando
Lugo is disqualified early next year. Irrespective of Fadul's
finish in the presidential contest, his party's congressional
delegation -- known for being some of the brightest, most
active members of Congress -- will likely continue to play an
important role. END COMMENT.

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