Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07SANTODOMINGO2568
2007-11-16 14:22:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Santo Domingo
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C O N F I D E N T I A L SANTO DOMINGO 002568
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR WHA/CAR
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/15/2017
TAGS: PGOV ECON DR
SUBJECT: BREAKFAST WITH VARGAS MALDONADO
REF: SANTO DOMINGO 2366
Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Roland W. Bullen, Reasons 1.4(b),(d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L SANTO DOMINGO 002568
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR WHA/CAR
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/15/2017
TAGS: PGOV ECON DR
SUBJECT: BREAKFAST WITH VARGAS MALDONADO
REF: SANTO DOMINGO 2366
Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Roland W. Bullen, Reasons 1.4(b),(d)
1. (U) On November 6, Dominican Revolutionary Party (PRD)
presidential candidate Miguel Vargas Maldonado hosted
ECOPOLCOUNS and POLOFF for breakfast. Vargas was accompanied
by PRD Secretary-General Orlando Jorge Mera, International
Affairs Vice President Peggy Cabral de Pena, and
International Affairs Director Carlos Guzman.
2. (SBU) Vargas recounted his recent visit to New York, where
he had carried out campaign events and fund-raising
activities. He message there, as well as at home, is of
plans to reinvigorate the Dominican economy. Eschewing
specifics, Vargas spoke of the need to increase foreign
investment, revamp the agriculture sector, and support
industrial development. One concrete plan discussed was
promotion of the "tourism real estate" sector (i.e. sales of
holiday homes),an idea that the PRD candidate said he had
picked up from Martin Torrijos, the President of Panama,
where that sector is experiencing a boom.
3. (SBU) Hitting familiar campaign themes (Reftel),Vargas
criticized the administration of his opponent, President
Fernandez, for having raised taxes on three occasions while
delivering few services to the people. The PRD candidate
estimated the cost of constructing the controversial Santo
Domingo subway at US$1.2 billion, and predicted that the
system will require a permanent subsidy while only addressing
seven percent of the city's public transportation needs.
This great use of resources, he charged, comes at the expense
of funding for health and education.
4. (SBU) When it came time to allege corruption in the
Fernandez administration, Jorge Mera did the talking. Jorge
alleged that the President violated the constitution in
seeking a US$130 million loan for public works, a financial
transaction which was handled by The Sun Land Corporation.
He alleged that the loan did not have the required approval
of Congress and that it is unclear where the borrowed funds
were allocated.
5. (SBU) Jorge also alleged that President Fernandez is
abusing government resources for political ends. As
examples, the party leader cited events where the President
inaugurates public works projects and speeches are made that
give the impression of a political rally, as well as
advertisements paid for by government ministries in which the
Fernandez administration's accomplishments are touted.
Vargas added that relief supplies distributed after recent
flooding carried the slogan "Let's Move Forward!" (E'
Pa'lante que Vamos) which is very similar to Fernandez's
campaign slogan, "Move Forward President!" (Pa'lante
Presidente). Vargas was also critical of the numerous new
sub-cabinet positions added to the government, describing
them as blatant patronage. The creation of a Presidential
Gastronomic Advisor, he said, was a "joke on the Dominican
people."
6. (SBU) Turning to the President's constitutional reform
initiative, Jorge said that the PRD believes that, with the
election only six months away, the atmosphere is too
politicized for the reforms to be debated properly. For this
reason, the PRD will oppose the amendments that they believe
Fernandez will submit to Congress shortly. (Note: In an
aside, Jorge claimed that Fernandez will propose the
elimination of presidential term limits.)
7. (C) COMMENT: Coming from a successful businessman,
Vargas' campaign theme of reinvigorating the Dominican
economy through improved management sells well. Despite his
wealth, the PRD candidate does not have an elitist air;
instead, his frequent use of colloquialisms comes off as
folksy. He was confident and relaxed in our meeting, and his
campaign team is professional and well prepared. We left the
breakfast convinced that, while Fernandez maintains a
three-to-seven percent lead in the polls, this election will
be no cakewalk.
(U) This report and additional information can be found on
Embassy Santo Domingo's SIPRNET site,
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/wha/santodomingo/
GOUGHNOUR
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR WHA/CAR
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/15/2017
TAGS: PGOV ECON DR
SUBJECT: BREAKFAST WITH VARGAS MALDONADO
REF: SANTO DOMINGO 2366
Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Roland W. Bullen, Reasons 1.4(b),(d)
1. (U) On November 6, Dominican Revolutionary Party (PRD)
presidential candidate Miguel Vargas Maldonado hosted
ECOPOLCOUNS and POLOFF for breakfast. Vargas was accompanied
by PRD Secretary-General Orlando Jorge Mera, International
Affairs Vice President Peggy Cabral de Pena, and
International Affairs Director Carlos Guzman.
2. (SBU) Vargas recounted his recent visit to New York, where
he had carried out campaign events and fund-raising
activities. He message there, as well as at home, is of
plans to reinvigorate the Dominican economy. Eschewing
specifics, Vargas spoke of the need to increase foreign
investment, revamp the agriculture sector, and support
industrial development. One concrete plan discussed was
promotion of the "tourism real estate" sector (i.e. sales of
holiday homes),an idea that the PRD candidate said he had
picked up from Martin Torrijos, the President of Panama,
where that sector is experiencing a boom.
3. (SBU) Hitting familiar campaign themes (Reftel),Vargas
criticized the administration of his opponent, President
Fernandez, for having raised taxes on three occasions while
delivering few services to the people. The PRD candidate
estimated the cost of constructing the controversial Santo
Domingo subway at US$1.2 billion, and predicted that the
system will require a permanent subsidy while only addressing
seven percent of the city's public transportation needs.
This great use of resources, he charged, comes at the expense
of funding for health and education.
4. (SBU) When it came time to allege corruption in the
Fernandez administration, Jorge Mera did the talking. Jorge
alleged that the President violated the constitution in
seeking a US$130 million loan for public works, a financial
transaction which was handled by The Sun Land Corporation.
He alleged that the loan did not have the required approval
of Congress and that it is unclear where the borrowed funds
were allocated.
5. (SBU) Jorge also alleged that President Fernandez is
abusing government resources for political ends. As
examples, the party leader cited events where the President
inaugurates public works projects and speeches are made that
give the impression of a political rally, as well as
advertisements paid for by government ministries in which the
Fernandez administration's accomplishments are touted.
Vargas added that relief supplies distributed after recent
flooding carried the slogan "Let's Move Forward!" (E'
Pa'lante que Vamos) which is very similar to Fernandez's
campaign slogan, "Move Forward President!" (Pa'lante
Presidente). Vargas was also critical of the numerous new
sub-cabinet positions added to the government, describing
them as blatant patronage. The creation of a Presidential
Gastronomic Advisor, he said, was a "joke on the Dominican
people."
6. (SBU) Turning to the President's constitutional reform
initiative, Jorge said that the PRD believes that, with the
election only six months away, the atmosphere is too
politicized for the reforms to be debated properly. For this
reason, the PRD will oppose the amendments that they believe
Fernandez will submit to Congress shortly. (Note: In an
aside, Jorge claimed that Fernandez will propose the
elimination of presidential term limits.)
7. (C) COMMENT: Coming from a successful businessman,
Vargas' campaign theme of reinvigorating the Dominican
economy through improved management sells well. Despite his
wealth, the PRD candidate does not have an elitist air;
instead, his frequent use of colloquialisms comes off as
folksy. He was confident and relaxed in our meeting, and his
campaign team is professional and well prepared. We left the
breakfast convinced that, while Fernandez maintains a
three-to-seven percent lead in the polls, this election will
be no cakewalk.
(U) This report and additional information can be found on
Embassy Santo Domingo's SIPRNET site,
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/wha/santodomingo/
GOUGHNOUR