Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07CARACAS1998
2007-10-11 13:47:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Caracas
Cable title:  

LOCAL RECALL ELECTIONS: MIXED RESULTS IN LOW-KEY

Tags:  PGOV KDEM VE 
pdf how-to read a cable
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PP RUEHAO RUEHCD RUEHGA RUEHGD RUEHHA RUEHHO RUEHMC RUEHNG RUEHNL
RUEHQU RUEHRD RUEHRG RUEHRS RUEHTM RUEHVC
DE RUEHCV #1998 2841347
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 111347Z OCT 07
FM AMEMBASSY CARACAS
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 9886
INFO RUEHWH/WESTERN HEMISPHERIC AFFAIRS DIPL POSTS PRIORITY
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY
RUMIAAA/HQ USSOUTHCOM MIAMI FL PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L CARACAS 001998 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

HQSOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD
DEPT PASS TO AID/OTI (RPORTER)

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/19/2017
TAGS: PGOV KDEM VE
SUBJECT: LOCAL RECALL ELECTIONS: MIXED RESULTS IN LOW-KEY
RACES

REF: CARACAS 01249

Classified By: POLITICAL COUNSELOR ROBERT DOWNES,
REASON 1.4 (D)

C O N F I D E N T I A L CARACAS 001998

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

HQSOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD
DEPT PASS TO AID/OTI (RPORTER)

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/19/2017
TAGS: PGOV KDEM VE
SUBJECT: LOCAL RECALL ELECTIONS: MIXED RESULTS IN LOW-KEY
RACES

REF: CARACAS 01249

Classified By: POLITICAL COUNSELOR ROBERT DOWNES,
REASON 1.4 (D)


1. (C) Summary: The Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela (BRV)
held ten local recall elections in various parts of Venezuela
on October 7. According to the preliminary results from the
National Electoral Commission (CNE),four mayors, two
Chavistas and two from the opposition, as well as one
regional representative were recalled. Five other mayors,
four Chavistas and one opposition mayor, retained their jobs,
some by virtue of low voter turnout. Neither the BRV nor the
opposition mobilized large numbers of voters for these races.
The mixed results of these local elections most likely
reflect local idiosyncrasies rather than national trends.
End Summary.


2. (U) The CNE conducted a special recall election on
October 7 for nine mayors from small cities and towns in
Falcon, Portuguesa, Bolivar, Miranda, Cojedes, Guarico, and
Amazonas states. A regional assembly representative from
Amazonas (the least populated state) also faced a recall
election. Voter turn-out for the local recall elections was
light, and the local media gave little attention to the
contests.


3. (U) Four mayors in Falcon, Cojedes, Guarico, and Amazonas
states were recalled and will be forced to relinquish their
positions. Two of the defeated mayors hailed from the
opposition and two supported the Chavez government. Not
withstanding the recalls, all will still be eligible to run
for public office in the 2008 state and local elections. No
new elections will take place in those municipalities. Their
replacements will be chosen by the corresponding municipal
councils to finish the recalled officials' terms of office.
The recalled regional representative, however, is ineligible
to run again until 2012.


4. (U) According to Article 200 of the Electoral Rules, in
order for an elected official to be recalled, the number of
votes in favor of a recall must be more than the amount of
votes the incumbent initially garnered when initially voted
into office. This rule saved three mayors whom a majority
voted against because the recall votes did not exceed the
number of votes that put the mayors in office. On the other
hand, mayors in Portuguesa and Miranda states won the
overwhelming backing of their constituents and will remain in
office.


5. (C) Comment. Neither the government nor opposition
parties mobilized voters during the June 16-18 recall
petition drive, so there were very few offices and no major
ones on the line during the October 7 recall referenda. The
BRV is focused on consolidating its support and securing
approval for constitutional reform in early December.
Opposition parties decided early in 2007 that they had little
interest in seeking the recall of local pro-Chavez officials
given that other pro-Chavez officials would be appointed to
replace them. Moreover, CNE administration of the recall
petition drives was particularly cumbersome, further
discouraging voters from pursuing recall elections. The
mixed results of the votes for both the BRV and opposition
most likely reflect local politics and personalities rather
than national trends. End Comment.

DUDDY