Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07MONTEVIDEO1071
2007-12-31 14:30:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Montevideo
how-toVZCZCXYZ0000 PP RUEHWEB DE RUEHMN #1071 3651430 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 311430Z DEC 07 FM AMEMBASSY MONTEVIDEO TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 7861 INFO RUCNMER/MERCOSUR COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
UNCLAS MONTEVIDEO 001071
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR WHA/BSC
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV UY
SUBJECT: GOU SHUTTERED
REF: MONTEVIDEO 1061
UNCLAS MONTEVIDEO 001071
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR WHA/BSC
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV UY
SUBJECT: GOU SHUTTERED
REF: MONTEVIDEO 1061
1. (U) The Presidency and the cabinet will be closed for
business during the entire month of January except for a
government-wide strategic planning meeting on January 14.
President Vazquez has called for key Frente Amplio (FA)
officials to gather that day to discuss issues related to
state reform, such as impending transformations in public
administration and the GOU's recently announced
decentralization project. The latter purports to create
mayoralties in at least 100 cities in the interior. The GOU
will also define other structural changes planned for 2008
which would require constitutional reform. These include
expanding the right to vote to Uruguayans outside the
country. Vazquez' FA powwow will include the vice-president,
cabinet members, the office of budgets and planning, the
office of civil services, directors of the large public
companies, and all FA legislators.
2. (SBU) COMMENT: In addition to the publicly announced
meeting agenda on January 14, we expect more hints about
cabinet changes expected in February to emerge. The question
of who will lead the FA ticket in 2009 will also loom large
in the background. A recent barrage of corruption
allegations against FA leaders and the parties' recent
inability to select new leadership (reftel) is glaring in the
eyes of the public. Vazquez will want to start the new year
off with momentum and shake off criticism of the FA, which
has been suffering in recent polls (reftel).
Harding
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR WHA/BSC
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV UY
SUBJECT: GOU SHUTTERED
REF: MONTEVIDEO 1061
1. (U) The Presidency and the cabinet will be closed for
business during the entire month of January except for a
government-wide strategic planning meeting on January 14.
President Vazquez has called for key Frente Amplio (FA)
officials to gather that day to discuss issues related to
state reform, such as impending transformations in public
administration and the GOU's recently announced
decentralization project. The latter purports to create
mayoralties in at least 100 cities in the interior. The GOU
will also define other structural changes planned for 2008
which would require constitutional reform. These include
expanding the right to vote to Uruguayans outside the
country. Vazquez' FA powwow will include the vice-president,
cabinet members, the office of budgets and planning, the
office of civil services, directors of the large public
companies, and all FA legislators.
2. (SBU) COMMENT: In addition to the publicly announced
meeting agenda on January 14, we expect more hints about
cabinet changes expected in February to emerge. The question
of who will lead the FA ticket in 2009 will also loom large
in the background. A recent barrage of corruption
allegations against FA leaders and the parties' recent
inability to select new leadership (reftel) is glaring in the
eyes of the public. Vazquez will want to start the new year
off with momentum and shake off criticism of the FA, which
has been suffering in recent polls (reftel).
Harding