Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07ASUNCION1076
2007-12-31 14:18:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Asuncion
Cable title:
CONTROVERSY OVER COLORADO PARTY PRIMARY CONTINUES
how-toVZCZCXYZ0020 PP RUEHWEB DE RUEHAC #1076 3651418 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 311418Z DEC 07 FM AMEMBASSY ASUNCION TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 6490 INFO RUCNMER/MERCOSUR COLLECTIVE
C O N F I D E N T I A L ASUNCION 001076
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/31/2027
TAGS: PGOV PREL PA
SUBJECT: CONTROVERSY OVER COLORADO PARTY PRIMARY CONTINUES
Classified By: Charge d'Affairs a.i. Bruce Kleiner; reasons 1.4 (b) and
(d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L ASUNCION 001076
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/31/2027
TAGS: PGOV PREL PA
SUBJECT: CONTROVERSY OVER COLORADO PARTY PRIMARY CONTINUES
Classified By: Charge d'Affairs a.i. Bruce Kleiner; reasons 1.4 (b) and
(d).
1. (C) Pre-candidate Luis Castiglioni won the Colorado Party
re-vote of one Asuncion polling station December 30. The
re-vote was held because the December 16 Colorado Party
primary at this location was marred by fraud and violence.
Despite a strong police presence, there were further
incidents of alleged fraud and violence between the
supporters of Castiglioni and "oficialista" candidate Blanca
Ovelar, President Duarte's chosen successor, December 30. In
the run-up to the December 30 vote, both sides campaigned
door-to-door, with Ovelar reportedly handing out Christmas
fruitcakes and cash.
2. (C) Despite reports that Castiglioni won the December 30
re-vote, the Colorado Party nomination will remain formally
undecided until January 10. Ovelar claims to be winning by
32,000 votes with nine interior departments counted;
Castiglioni remains confident that he won. Castiglioni
insiders, however, worry about Ovelar supporters falsifying
local electoral results and buying off the party's electoral
tribunal. Castiglioni supporters have publicly expressed
disappointment that the head of the Colorado electoral
tribunal, Oscar La Torre, has described the process to date
as "transparent" given their contention that some results
were based on falsified documents. They have called for La
Torre's resignation.
3. (C) COMMENT: President Duarte and Blanca Ovelar appear to
be surprised that Castiglioni is running such a close race.
Duarte made another jab at Castiglioni (and us) in a
transcribed interview in third-in-circulation,
business-oriented "La Nacion" published December 30. Duarte
said Castiglioni is supported by "the press, Ambassador Cason
and USG money;" he also described Castiglioni as "submissive"
to "U.S. imperialism." However, most of Duarte's claims have
failed to resonate. We will continue to keep a low profile
through January 10, when the Colorado Party electoral
tribunal announces its formal tally. END COMMENT.
Please visit us at http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/wha/asuncion
FITZPATRICK
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/31/2027
TAGS: PGOV PREL PA
SUBJECT: CONTROVERSY OVER COLORADO PARTY PRIMARY CONTINUES
Classified By: Charge d'Affairs a.i. Bruce Kleiner; reasons 1.4 (b) and
(d).
1. (C) Pre-candidate Luis Castiglioni won the Colorado Party
re-vote of one Asuncion polling station December 30. The
re-vote was held because the December 16 Colorado Party
primary at this location was marred by fraud and violence.
Despite a strong police presence, there were further
incidents of alleged fraud and violence between the
supporters of Castiglioni and "oficialista" candidate Blanca
Ovelar, President Duarte's chosen successor, December 30. In
the run-up to the December 30 vote, both sides campaigned
door-to-door, with Ovelar reportedly handing out Christmas
fruitcakes and cash.
2. (C) Despite reports that Castiglioni won the December 30
re-vote, the Colorado Party nomination will remain formally
undecided until January 10. Ovelar claims to be winning by
32,000 votes with nine interior departments counted;
Castiglioni remains confident that he won. Castiglioni
insiders, however, worry about Ovelar supporters falsifying
local electoral results and buying off the party's electoral
tribunal. Castiglioni supporters have publicly expressed
disappointment that the head of the Colorado electoral
tribunal, Oscar La Torre, has described the process to date
as "transparent" given their contention that some results
were based on falsified documents. They have called for La
Torre's resignation.
3. (C) COMMENT: President Duarte and Blanca Ovelar appear to
be surprised that Castiglioni is running such a close race.
Duarte made another jab at Castiglioni (and us) in a
transcribed interview in third-in-circulation,
business-oriented "La Nacion" published December 30. Duarte
said Castiglioni is supported by "the press, Ambassador Cason
and USG money;" he also described Castiglioni as "submissive"
to "U.S. imperialism." However, most of Duarte's claims have
failed to resonate. We will continue to keep a low profile
through January 10, when the Colorado Party electoral
tribunal announces its formal tally. END COMMENT.
Please visit us at http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/wha/asuncion
FITZPATRICK