Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07LAPAZ341
2007-02-08 16:45:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy La Paz
Cable title:
MORALES HALTS DEAL IN CONSTITUENT ASSEMBLY
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UNCLAS LA PAZ 000341
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL BL
SUBJECT: MORALES HALTS DEAL IN CONSTITUENT ASSEMBLY
UNCLAS LA PAZ 000341
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL BL
SUBJECT: MORALES HALTS DEAL IN CONSTITUENT ASSEMBLY
1. (SBU) Amidst rumors that President Morales' Movement
Toward Socialism (MAS) party was approaching a deal with the
opposition on whether to use a two-thirds or a majority vote
for constitutional changes, Morales travelled to Sucre
February 6 and halted his party's negotiations. According to
press reports, Morales ordered that the MAS' February 3
agreement with the National Unity (UN) party be amended to
include a single referendum to resolve debate over
controversial articles and to approve the entire
constitution. While one MAS delegate said Morales encouraged
the party to continue working toward a compromise, most view
Morales' visit as obstructionist. One UN delegate said
negotiations had taken another step backward and said it
would be better to close Assembly than to keep wasting
Bolivian taxpayers' money.
2. (SBU) Comment: CA negotiations tend to adhere to the
following pattern: 1) MAS delegates attempt to compromise
with the opposition, 2) a high-level GOB official visits
Sucre to reinstall party discipline, and 3) negotiations
break down. The CA is officially half way through its one
year mandate and has failed to make progress on any front.
Some opposition analysts believe the MAS' stalling technique
furthers its plan to railroad a new constitution through the
Assembly at the eleventh hour. If such a plan exists, it
risks denying Bolivians the thing they want most-- a new
constitution. End comment.
GOLDBERG
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL BL
SUBJECT: MORALES HALTS DEAL IN CONSTITUENT ASSEMBLY
1. (SBU) Amidst rumors that President Morales' Movement
Toward Socialism (MAS) party was approaching a deal with the
opposition on whether to use a two-thirds or a majority vote
for constitutional changes, Morales travelled to Sucre
February 6 and halted his party's negotiations. According to
press reports, Morales ordered that the MAS' February 3
agreement with the National Unity (UN) party be amended to
include a single referendum to resolve debate over
controversial articles and to approve the entire
constitution. While one MAS delegate said Morales encouraged
the party to continue working toward a compromise, most view
Morales' visit as obstructionist. One UN delegate said
negotiations had taken another step backward and said it
would be better to close Assembly than to keep wasting
Bolivian taxpayers' money.
2. (SBU) Comment: CA negotiations tend to adhere to the
following pattern: 1) MAS delegates attempt to compromise
with the opposition, 2) a high-level GOB official visits
Sucre to reinstall party discipline, and 3) negotiations
break down. The CA is officially half way through its one
year mandate and has failed to make progress on any front.
Some opposition analysts believe the MAS' stalling technique
furthers its plan to railroad a new constitution through the
Assembly at the eleventh hour. If such a plan exists, it
risks denying Bolivians the thing they want most-- a new
constitution. End comment.
GOLDBERG