CHAVEZ UNDER FIRE IN URUGUAY

C O N F I D E N T I A L MONTEVIDEO 001001 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPT ALSO FOR WHA/BSC E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/27/2017 TAGS: PREL PGOV PINR KPAO VE UY SUBJECT: CHAVEZ UNDER FIRE IN URUGUAY Classified By: Ambassador Frank Baxter, for reasons 1.4(b) and (d) Summary -------------- ¶1. (C) SUMMARY: Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has been a favorite subject of the media and political columnists in Uruguay, who more often than not highlight his faults. This was exemplified by a flurry of recent articles and editorials that have cast Chavez in a negative light. Several articles, editorials and op-eds in leading dailies have been very critical of Chavez, as he moves to consolidate his power in Venezuela. This discourse, combined with the popular reaction to the Spanish King's public reprimand of Chavez - popularized through political parodies on TV and in print and a cacophony of cell phone ring tones - have beleaguered Chavez' image in Uruguay, with some already commenting that Chavez has begun to self-destruct. With this overwhelmingly critical media coverage and negative public reaction to Chavez's antics and anti-democratic moves, opinion-makers in Latin America are beginning to make headway in changing the public perception of Chavez. We believe that for the U.S. to wade into the public discussion at this stage would be counter-productive, as it would change the focus of this homegrown anti-Chavez offensive into a U.S. vs. Chavez fight. END SUMMARY. Press Largely Critical of Chavez -------------- ¶2. (SBU) In an editorial entitled "Totalitarian Reform," leading daily El Pais on November 5 called President Chavez' constitutional reform a "grave attack on liberty and democracy (against this) continent." A November 15 editorial about the Chavez/King of Spain spat in Santiago called the Venezuelan leader "the principal chatterbox of banana-republic governance" and commented on how Latin America's serious leaders were tired of receiving political lectures from him. Finally, El Pais noted that the phrase "why don't you just shut up" had been incorporated into the political lexicon in Spain and Uruguay, thanks to Chavez. ¶3. (SBU) Coverage of Chavez in centrist "Ultimas Noticias" showed the face of an angry President Chavez, plus articles of rioting students in Caracas. The headlines read "Chavez Threatens Spanish Investment," and "Chavez Accused of Arming Groups to Silence (student) Protesters." Centrist El Observador's headlines read "Chavez Attacks the King of Spain," and called the Ibero-American Summit "The Conference of Rudeness," owing to the Venezuelan leader's attacks on former Spanish Prime Minister Aznar, rather than the King's admonishment of Chavez. El Observador noted that Chavez's behavior has isolated Venezuela internationally. ¶4. (SBU) Only the Communist newspaper "La Juventud" and the leftist daily "La Republica" felt the need to defend Chavez after the brouhaha in Santiago, with a string of editorials denouncing Spain and its colonial role in Latin America. The good news is that the USG was largely left out of the debate. Other articles in these dailies draw on Fidel Castro's vocal support for his Venezuelan ally. Chavez Supporter Laments "Media Bias" -------------- ¶5. (SBU) Even Chavez's friends have felt the need to come to his defense from the lop-sided press coverage. Foreign Minister Reinaldo Gargano, President of the Socialist Party and a strong Chavez supporter, lamented the "lack of democracy in recent media coverage" during a November 22 seminar sponsored by the Socialist Party. He opined that "the media controls information about Venezuela - information, which on account of the media being managed by the (political) right, falsely characterizes Venezuela." Comment: Not the Time to Pile On -------------- ¶6. (C) COMMENT: As Gargano's statements demonstrate, Chavez is not without supporters in Uruguay, but we are pleased to observe a steady line of commentary and media coverage that confronts head-on the myth of Chavez as defender of the region's poor and a regional leader seeking to unify Latin America. In general, we observe that more Chavez press coverage means more negative coverage in the centrist newspapers (which represent the majority of readership) and a tougher spin job for the leftists. While it may be tempting to wade into the public debate while Chavez is on the defensive, that tactic would be likely more harmful than good, akin to throwing him a lifeline. Chavez and his ilk are renowned for their ability to twist any criticism from the U.S. for their own propaganda. Piling on at this time would be malapropos, at least in Uruguay. Rather, Post is inclined to continue our efforts to accentuate the positives of our relationship with Latin America, and Uruguay in particular, and let the media, and many opinion leaders, continue taking on Chavez on their own. END COMMENT. Baxter