Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07LAPAZ2971
2007-11-08 21:09:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy La Paz
Cable title:
BOLIVIAN VP'S LATE NIGHT TRY AT CONSTITUTION DEAL
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C O N F I D E N T I A L LA PAZ 002971
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/08/2017
TAGS: ECON PGOV PREL BL
SUBJECT: BOLIVIAN VP'S LATE NIGHT TRY AT CONSTITUTION DEAL
Classified By: Amb. Philip S. Goldberg for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L LA PAZ 002971
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/08/2017
TAGS: ECON PGOV PREL BL
SUBJECT: BOLIVIAN VP'S LATE NIGHT TRY AT CONSTITUTION DEAL
Classified By: Amb. Philip S. Goldberg for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (C) In a private lunch on November 6, Branko Marinkovic,
President of the Santa Cruz Civic Committee and owner of
extensive land holdings and a large cooking oil factory, told
the Ambassador that Vice President Garcia Linera had offered
him a deal on the constitution about a month ago. Branko
said that one night around 10 p.m. he got a call from Garcia
Linera saying he wanted to meet with him. According to
Branko, he told Garcia Linera that he did not want to meet,
to which Garcia Linera responded that he was actually parked
outside of Branko's home in Santa Cruz and would wait for him
to get home. Branko said that Garcia Linera offered that if
Branko would agree to have the opposition approve a
"constitution light" that included reelection for President
Evo Morales, he would make all of Branko's land problems
"disappear" (Note: The GOB has initiated "land reform"
proceedings against Branko's properties. End note.) Branko
said he told Garcia Linera that he would not make such a deal
and to go ahead and take away his land.
2. (C) Branko told the Ambassador that the GOB is desperate
to get reelection included in the new constitutions through
any means possible. Branko and the Santa Cruz opposition
plan to do everything in their power to not include
reelection.
--------------
COMMENT
--------------
3. (C) The Vice President has been the GOB's main deal
broker (although not too successfully) for the Constituent
Assembly. The fact that he would show up unannounced late at
night at one of Evo Morales' chief opponents house to offer a
deal confirms what many contacts have been telling us: the
MAS is willing to negotiate just about anything in order to
have reelection included in the new constitution. End
comment.
GOLDBERG
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/08/2017
TAGS: ECON PGOV PREL BL
SUBJECT: BOLIVIAN VP'S LATE NIGHT TRY AT CONSTITUTION DEAL
Classified By: Amb. Philip S. Goldberg for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (C) In a private lunch on November 6, Branko Marinkovic,
President of the Santa Cruz Civic Committee and owner of
extensive land holdings and a large cooking oil factory, told
the Ambassador that Vice President Garcia Linera had offered
him a deal on the constitution about a month ago. Branko
said that one night around 10 p.m. he got a call from Garcia
Linera saying he wanted to meet with him. According to
Branko, he told Garcia Linera that he did not want to meet,
to which Garcia Linera responded that he was actually parked
outside of Branko's home in Santa Cruz and would wait for him
to get home. Branko said that Garcia Linera offered that if
Branko would agree to have the opposition approve a
"constitution light" that included reelection for President
Evo Morales, he would make all of Branko's land problems
"disappear" (Note: The GOB has initiated "land reform"
proceedings against Branko's properties. End note.) Branko
said he told Garcia Linera that he would not make such a deal
and to go ahead and take away his land.
2. (C) Branko told the Ambassador that the GOB is desperate
to get reelection included in the new constitutions through
any means possible. Branko and the Santa Cruz opposition
plan to do everything in their power to not include
reelection.
--------------
COMMENT
--------------
3. (C) The Vice President has been the GOB's main deal
broker (although not too successfully) for the Constituent
Assembly. The fact that he would show up unannounced late at
night at one of Evo Morales' chief opponents house to offer a
deal confirms what many contacts have been telling us: the
MAS is willing to negotiate just about anything in order to
have reelection included in the new constitution. End
comment.
GOLDBERG