CATHOLIC CLERGY SPEAK OUT BEFORE ELECTIONS

UNCLAS ASUNCION 000172

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

STATE FOR WHA/BSC KBEAMER

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL SCUL PA
SUBJECT: CATHOLIC CLERGY SPEAK OUT BEFORE ELECTIONS

REF: 06 ASUNCION 1057


1. (U) SUMMARY: Eight Catholic clergy members comprising
the Paraguayan Episcopal Conference (CEP) issued a joint
manifesto March 14 outlining their political positions in the
run up to the April 20 national elections. They expressed
opposition to electoral fraud, political patronage, vote
buying, and the presidential candidacy of former San Pedro
bishop Fernando Lugo, and also made a pitch for
constitutional reform. Although Paraguayan voters hold the
Church in high regard, the CEP's political manifesto may not
hold much sway with voters April 20. END SUMMARY.


2. U) Eight Catholic clergy members comprising the
Paraguayan Episcopal Conference (CEP) -- including six
bishops -- issued a joint manifesto March 14 outlining their
political positions in the run up to the April 20 national
elections, including their opposition to electoral fraud.
They argued that public officials should avoid altering
election results. The clergy specifically stated that
elections tribunals must remain independent and objective in
order to ensure the credibility of the electoral process.
Citing the examples of Colorado presidential candidate Luis
Castiglioni and Liberal vice presidential candidate Federico
Franco, they warned that fraud could be alleged after April
20 due to discrepancies between pre-election polls heavily
favoring certain candidates and election results.


3. (U) CEP members asserted their opposition to political
patronage and "vote buying." They wrote, "Our perverse
political culture is the root of the ills of our democracy.
We must eradicate this corruption of playing politics based
on patronage, favoritism, and impunity." The bishops argued
that the "vast majority of the electorate, especially in
rural areas, do not choose," but rather "are herded to polls
by political operators who buy their votes." The clergy
stated that political candidates must stop interfering in
government affairs by favoring or removing public officials
based on party loyalty or paying public employees to campaign
on their behalf. They argued that political parties should
stop using public funds for political campaign purposes and
refrain from buying votes.


4. (U) The clergy also chimed in on the political status of
Fernando Lugo, former bishop of San Pedro and now leading
presidential candidate, affirming that the Church still
considers Lugo a Catholic bishop. (NOTE: The Church
appointed Bishop Adalberto Martinez Flores to replace Lugo as
bishop of San Pedro in February 2007 following Lugo's
resignation in December 2006. END NOTE.) They noted,
however, that separation of Church and state prohibits the
Church from halting Lugo's campaign. They affirmed that the
Church "does not endorse any candidacy for the political
leadership of the country."


5. (U) CEP members also made a pitch for reforming the 1992
Constitution to better balance the executive, legislative and
judicial branches. They argued that political parties exert
too much power in government and that the constitution vests
too much power in Congress and the executive branch. They
advocated for a new constitution that would encourage the
executive branch to serve the people rather than special
interests, enable a strong and independent judiciary, and
entice Congress to pass "better" laws.


6. (SBU) COMMENT: Although voters hold the Church in high
regard (reftel),the CEP's political manifesto may not hold
much sway with voters in the upcoming election. The Church,
one of the relatively few neutral and objective players in
Paraguayan society, exerts little political influence in
comparison with the political parties now actively
maneuvering to capture votes. END COMMENT.

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