PLC DEPUTY ADMITS RIFTS IN PARTY

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 MANAGUA 000255

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR WHA/CEN

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/26/2017
TAGS: PGOV PINR KDEM NU
SUBJECT: PLC DEPUTY ADMITS RIFTS IN PARTY

REF: A. MANAGUA 0241

B. MANAGUA 0181

C. MANAGUA 0175

Classified By: Ambassador Paul Trivelli for reasons 1.4 (b and d)


1. (C) Summary: Liberal Constitutional Party (PLC) deputy
Carlos Noguera recently reported considerable discontent
within the PLC rank and file stemming from the dismal results
of the national elections and the party's ongoing political
pact with the Sandinista Front (FSLN). Local party leaders
in his home province of Jinotega told Noguera that they will
not help PLC candidates prior to the 2008 municipal elections
unless the party seeks unification with the Nicaraguan
Liberal Alliance (ALN). According to Noguera, the PLC caucus
in the National Assembly barely maintained a unified front
after an internal fight over the approval of Law 290 reforms
(ref A). End Summary.


2. (C) Poloffs met with PLC deputy and former National
Assembly president Carlos Noguera on January 25 to discuss
the PLC's approval of controversial reforms to Law 290
strengthening the powers of the Executive and the future
orientation of the PLC vis-a-vis the FSLN and ALN. The
meeting was cordial and Noguera seemed quite pleased to have
received our invitation to talk. (Note: Noguera was the only
PLC deputy to openly oppose the reforms. End Note.)


3. (C) Regarding the Law 290 reforms, we noted to Noguera
that PLC caucus chief Maximino Rodriguez had assured us that
the PLC would not agree to "fast track" the legislation that
would give President Ortega more power (ref C). Noguera
responded that deputies Wilfredo Navarro and Oscar Moncada
had "betrayed" the caucus after receiving eleventh-hour
instructions from convicted party chief and ex-President
Arnoldo Aleman to give the PLC's consent during a meeting
between Ortega and Assembly representatives. After an
internal PLC fight in the plenary, Navarro agreed that no
further voting decisions would be made without the consent of
the caucus members in exchange for a unified vote on the
reforms.


4. (C) Noguera admitted that even in the regions of the
country where the PLC won a majority of the vote (primarily
in the North),the grass roots members and local leaders are
unhappy with the national leadership -- especially the
Ortega-Aleman political pact. They believe, and Noguera
agrees, that the PLC will suffer an even greater defeat in
the 2008 municipal elections if the party does not unify with
the ALN and other democratic parties. Local PLC mayors and
other leaders in Noguera's home department of Jinotega told
him that they will not support the party if the PLC
leadership fails to achieve Liberal unity. Polcouns remarked
that the municipal elections may offer the last window of
opportunity for the democratic opposition to block Ortega's
determination to consolidate power, change the constitution,
and win the 2011 presidential race. However, only a united
opposition will be strong enough to compete in the municipal
elections.


5. (C) Concurring with our assessment, Noguera explained that
some in his party have made efforts to reach out to the ALN.
For example, he and other PLC deputies recently met with ALN
deputy Jamileth Bonilla to discuss a common legislative
agenda (ref B). When asked about the future role in the PLC
of former presidential and vice presidential candidates Jose
Rizo and Jose Antonio Alvarado, Noguera commented that Rizo
is essentially regarded as a "has-been," although some
deputies still respect him and he may serve in some kind of
advisory role. Noguera asserted that Alvarado, who is known
to frequently switch political affiliation according to his
own self interests, has lost all credibility within the party
as he could not even deliver his home municipality of Granada
for the PLC.


6. (C) Noguera agreed with us that the Liberals should
refrain from attacking each other, especially in public, and
focus instead on stopping the FSLN tsunami from wiping out
all opposition. He noted that he had confronted PLC
spokesman Leonel Teller at Aleman's January 23 birthday
party, ordering Teller to back down on his public accusations
against ALN leader Eduardo Montealegre regarding the Cenis
(debt bonds) banking scandal. Noguera said that Teller is
pursuing a personal vendetta and does not speak for the party
(although he remains the party spokesman). Most of the
deputies seek reconciliation and regard the attacks on
Montealegre as a waste of time, he claimed.


7. (C) The PLC lawmaker was receptive to our suggestion that
the PLC work with other opposition parties to encourage the
strengthening of existing, and the formation of new, NGOs
unaffiliated with the FSLN and to encourage volunteerism
among party supporters. He also agreed with our observation
that donor assistance would be much more effective if
opposition parties worked in concert, rather than at
cross-purposes. (Comment: The Sandinistas are known for
their party discipline and volunteerism, while the PLC
militants are more renowned for expecting remuneration in
exchange for their participation. Very few non-FSLN NGOs
operate in Nicaragua. End Comment.)


8. (C) Comment: Noguera has long been uncomfortable with the
Aleman-Ortega pact, although he refused to break with Aleman
before the elections and join the ALN. Now that the reality
of the PLC's electoral defeat is sinking in, Noguera and
others appear willing to reconsider their loyalty to Aleman,
who has led the party down a path of ruin and subservience to
the FSLN. Nevertheless, continued factionalism within the
PLC and ALN has hindered a rapprochement even while the
FSLN's legislative barrage has scared the Liberals into
negotiations. We will continue to encourage Liberal
reconciliation -- and the marginalization of Aleman -- as a
bulwark against the FSLN's totalitarian tendencies.
TRIVELLI