Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07LAPAZ38
2007-01-08 16:52:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy La Paz
Cable title:
AMBASSADOR'S MEETING WITH ELECTORAL COURT
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C O N F I D E N T I A L LA PAZ 000038
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/08/2017
TAGS: ECON PGOV PREL BL
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR'S MEETING WITH ELECTORAL COURT
PRESIDENT ROMERO
REF: LA PAZ 17
Classified By: Amb. Philip S. Goldberg for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
SUMMARY
C O N F I D E N T I A L LA PAZ 000038
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/08/2017
TAGS: ECON PGOV PREL BL
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR'S MEETING WITH ELECTORAL COURT
PRESIDENT ROMERO
REF: LA PAZ 17
Classified By: Amb. Philip S. Goldberg for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
SUMMARY
1. (C) The Ambassador met with Bolivian Electoral Court
President Salvador Romero Ballivian on January 5. President
Romero sought the meeting to express his concern about
attempts by the GOB to co-opt the independent court.
President Morales, in a December 22 meeting, suggested that
Romero, whose term expires in 2008, "resign now and live his
life without complications." Romero is resisting the
not-so-subtle pressure for the moment, vowing to finish his
term and protect the independence of the Electoral Court.
End summary.
BACKGROUND
2. (U) The Bolivian Electoral Court has been an independent
institution since 1991. It is charged with organizing
elections and maintaining the civil registry of eligible
voters. The Electoral Court's decisions are final and cannot
be appealed. The court is composed of five judges, each
serving a four-year term. Four of the judges are appointed
and confirmed by congress with a two-thirds vote, while one
judge is appointed by the president. Current Electoral Court
President Salvador Romero Ballivian, a non-partisian
technocrat, was appointed by congress, and his term expires
in 2008. Currently there are two vacancies on the court
bench.
MEETING WITH ELECTORAL COURT PRESIDENT ROMERO
3. (C) President Romero sought the meeting with the
Ambassador to express his concern about attempts by the GOB
to co-opt the independent court. The court has been under
verbal attack by the MAS and President Morales since before
the December 2005 presidential election. In his inaugural
speech, President Morales said he won the election in spite
of the Electoral Court. Although there has been a lull in
attacks since the July 2006 constituent assembly election,
Romero says the GOB has recently ratcheted up the pressure.
On December 22, Morales met with Romero and asked for his
resignation, reportedly telling Romero to "resign now and go
live your life without any complications." Romero said
President Morales threatened to issue a presidential decree
removing him from office. Romero told the Ambassador that he
has decided not to resign, as he feels it is his obligation
to "try to maintain checks and balances and separation of
powers." The Ambassador said he admired Romero's commitment
to these principles.
COMMENT
4. (C) Morales' not-so-sublte pressure on the Electoral
Court president to resign is consistent with the GOB's recent
efforts to recompose the independent judicial and government
bodies into more compliant institutions. In this case, the
GOB is no doubt doing so in anticipation of a possible
referendum later this year over a new constitution. End
Comment.
GOLDBERG
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/08/2017
TAGS: ECON PGOV PREL BL
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR'S MEETING WITH ELECTORAL COURT
PRESIDENT ROMERO
REF: LA PAZ 17
Classified By: Amb. Philip S. Goldberg for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
SUMMARY
1. (C) The Ambassador met with Bolivian Electoral Court
President Salvador Romero Ballivian on January 5. President
Romero sought the meeting to express his concern about
attempts by the GOB to co-opt the independent court.
President Morales, in a December 22 meeting, suggested that
Romero, whose term expires in 2008, "resign now and live his
life without complications." Romero is resisting the
not-so-subtle pressure for the moment, vowing to finish his
term and protect the independence of the Electoral Court.
End summary.
BACKGROUND
2. (U) The Bolivian Electoral Court has been an independent
institution since 1991. It is charged with organizing
elections and maintaining the civil registry of eligible
voters. The Electoral Court's decisions are final and cannot
be appealed. The court is composed of five judges, each
serving a four-year term. Four of the judges are appointed
and confirmed by congress with a two-thirds vote, while one
judge is appointed by the president. Current Electoral Court
President Salvador Romero Ballivian, a non-partisian
technocrat, was appointed by congress, and his term expires
in 2008. Currently there are two vacancies on the court
bench.
MEETING WITH ELECTORAL COURT PRESIDENT ROMERO
3. (C) President Romero sought the meeting with the
Ambassador to express his concern about attempts by the GOB
to co-opt the independent court. The court has been under
verbal attack by the MAS and President Morales since before
the December 2005 presidential election. In his inaugural
speech, President Morales said he won the election in spite
of the Electoral Court. Although there has been a lull in
attacks since the July 2006 constituent assembly election,
Romero says the GOB has recently ratcheted up the pressure.
On December 22, Morales met with Romero and asked for his
resignation, reportedly telling Romero to "resign now and go
live your life without any complications." Romero said
President Morales threatened to issue a presidential decree
removing him from office. Romero told the Ambassador that he
has decided not to resign, as he feels it is his obligation
to "try to maintain checks and balances and separation of
powers." The Ambassador said he admired Romero's commitment
to these principles.
COMMENT
4. (C) Morales' not-so-sublte pressure on the Electoral
Court president to resign is consistent with the GOB's recent
efforts to recompose the independent judicial and government
bodies into more compliant institutions. In this case, the
GOB is no doubt doing so in anticipation of a possible
referendum later this year over a new constitution. End
Comment.
GOLDBERG