CONVERGENCIA DEPUTIES HAVE INDEPENDENT AGENDA FROM

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 MANAGUA 000331 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPT FOR WHA/CEN E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/02/2017 TAGS: PGOV PREL PINR KDEM NU SUBJECT: CONVERGENCIA DEPUTIES HAVE INDEPENDENT AGENDA FROM FSLN IN NATIONAL ASSEMBLY REF: A. MANAGUA 0241 ¶B. 06 MANAGUA 2724 Classified By: Ambassador Paul Trivelli for reasons 1.4 (b and d) ¶1. (C) Summary: National Assembly deputy Augustin Jarquin recently told us that the non-Sandinista deputies in the Sandinista Front (FSLN) caucus have developed an independent legislative agenda. The deputies -- a mix of Liberals, Conservatives, Resistance leaders, and indigenous representatives -- are generally referred to as the "Convergencia" (Convergence),a group of parties that have formed alliances with the FSLN. Jarquin and some of the other Convergencia deputies are troubled by President Ortega's attempts to centralize power through legislative reforms and decrees, and plan to support efforts to reverse a number of "mistakes." Jarquin also requested assistance for FOPREL, an organization that is working to harmonize legislation in the region. End Summary. ¶2. (C) Ambassador and poloffs met with Convergencia deputy Augustin Jarquin on February 2 (at his request) to discuss perspectives on the Ortega government and the role of the Convergencia deputies in the National Assembly. Ambassador told Jarquin that our private meetings with administration officials have been cordial and productive; nevertheless, we are concerned that the FSLN has acted to centralize power without any dialogue with civil society. Ambassador explained that we will continue to closely monitor legislative reforms, as well as the administration's treatment of the press and civil society. ¶3. (C) Jarquin reported that the Convergencia deputies have developed an independent legislative agenda that focuses on professionalization of the justice system, electoral reforms, and political/constitutional reforms. Specifically, the Convergencia deputies agree that National Assembly deputies should be directly elected from individual districts, not from national or regional party lists. Jarquin agreed that such a reform would make deputies more accountable to their constituencies and give citizens a better sense of representation from their elected officials. Jarquin suggested a future meeting between Embassy officials and the Assembly's Foreign Relations Commission (of which he is a member) and a separate meeting with the five Convergencia deputies. ¶4. (C) Jarquin agreed that President Ortega has made some "mistakes" in his public discourse and legislative agenda, but assured us that the administration will correct its errors. Discounting recent press reports implying that Ortega may not negotiate to renew Nicaragua's agreement with the IMF, Jarquin commented that, while the IMF and the administration may disagree on certain points and that the negotiations may well be "difficult," the government will ultimately sign a new accord with the IMF. ¶5. (C) Regarding the controversial reforms to the Organic Law and Law 290 that were pushed by the FSLN (reftels),Jarquin stated that Ortega should have left at least nominal authority over the police and military with the Ministers of Government and Defense to act as a buffer should the security forces become involved in confrontations with civilians. He was more critical of the Organic Law reforms, calling the provision allowing the National Assembly to summon private citizens "wrong" and mentioned that the Assembly will probably revise this provision. He also asserted that the Assembly's new power to hold secret votes should only be used in "exceptional" cases such as votes on boundary disputes. When asked, he pledged that the FSLN/Convergencia deputies would not allow a secret vote on amnesty for ex-President and convicted money launderer Arnoldo Aleman. Jarquin said that the Convergencia will support efforts to modify the more egregious reforms. ¶6. (C) Jarquin mentioned that he is a participant in the Presidential and Legislative Forum (FOPREL),an organization that works with SICA and SIECA to harmonize bureaucratic practices and legislation throughout the Central American and Caribbean region to facilitate travel and trade. FOPREL has eight commissions that work in different areas of unification and make proposals to the member states through SICA (although the proposals are non-binding). Jarquin requested assistance to establish a central document repository, where experts would perform analysis of the legal and constitutional framework of the member states for the FOPREL commissions. The Ambassador suggested that USAID regional funds might be available to support some of this work. ¶7. (C) Comment: Jarquin was eager that we perceive the Convergencia deputies as a separate bloc from the rest of the FSLN caucus, possibly as a way to improve direct communications (and assistance flows from?) the Embassy. Contacts have indicated that Convergencia leaders are disgruntled with Ortega's moves to increase his authority, but more upset that they have not been allotted their "quota of power" within the administration. The Convergencia has been reliably obedient to Ortega in the past, and many of its more outspoken firebrands defected to the Sandinista Renovation Movement (MRS) before the elections. Should the Convergencia deputies eventually decide to break ranks, however, their votes could prove crucial for the opposition. TRIVELLI