Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08CARACAS840
2008-06-13 13:30:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Caracas
Cable title:
PSUV GOVERNOR STRIPPED OF TITLE AND DECLARED
how-toVZCZCXRO8958 PP RUEHAO RUEHCD RUEHGA RUEHGD RUEHHA RUEHHO RUEHMC RUEHMT RUEHNG RUEHNL RUEHQU RUEHRD RUEHRG RUEHRS RUEHTM RUEHVC DE RUEHCV #0840 1651330 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 131330Z JUN 08 FM AMEMBASSY CARACAS TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1318 INFO RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHWH/WESTERN HEMISPHERIC AFFAIRS DIPL POSTS PRIORITY RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY RUMIAAA/HQ USSOUTHCOM MIAMI FL PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L CARACAS 000840
SIPDIS
HQSOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD
DEPARTMENT PASS TO AID/OTI (RPORTER)
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/13/2028
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREL VE
SUBJECT: PSUV GOVERNOR STRIPPED OF TITLE AND DECLARED
INELIGIBLE FOR RE-ELECTION
REF: CARACAS 00812
Classified By: ACTING POLITICAL COUNSELOR VERONICA TORRES
FOR REASON 1.4 (D)
C O N F I D E N T I A L CARACAS 000840
SIPDIS
HQSOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD
DEPARTMENT PASS TO AID/OTI (RPORTER)
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/13/2028
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREL VE
SUBJECT: PSUV GOVERNOR STRIPPED OF TITLE AND DECLARED
INELIGIBLE FOR RE-ELECTION
REF: CARACAS 00812
Classified By: ACTING POLITICAL COUNSELOR VERONICA TORRES
FOR REASON 1.4 (D)
1. (SBU) The Supreme Court (TSJ) opened an investigation into
corruption charges against Yaracuy Governor Carlos Gutierrez
in late May and subsequently stripped him of his charge. The
TSJ also declared the United Socialist Party of Venezuela
(PSUV) governor ineligible to run for re-election in the
November state and local elections. It is widely believed
Gutierrez was sanctioned because he refused to withdraw his
candidacy even after the PSUV backed Julio Cesar Leon
Heredia, following the party's June 1 primary elections.
Gutierrez's defense team has argued he can only be barred
from running for public office following a judicial ruling,
the same argument used by the opposition to protest the
status of nearly 400 ineligible candidates (Reftel).
2. (C) President of the Andean Commission of Jurists Carlos
Ayala told POLOFF June 12 that President Chavez, who is also
president of the PSUV, is "shamelessly" using the
state-controlled courts to push the initiative through and
punish Gutierrez. (Note: Gutierrez is reportedly the first
governor to be stripped of his title while in office.
Yaracuy's Lieutenant Governor will take over in the interim.
End Note). Meanwhile, Carolina Segura, Gutierrez's
court-appointed public defender, told POLOFF that Gutierrez
will continue to contest the corruption charges and the
legality of the TSJ's rulings. Segura said she had not
personally discussed the case with Gutierrez because he was
not present at his May 27 hearing.
3. (C) Comment. The TSJ's decision to sanction Gutierrez is
another example of the lack of judicial independence in
Venezuela and the courts' apparent subordination to the will
of President Chavez. Interestingly, the PSUV governor relies
on the same judicial arguments that the opposition uses to
contest the ineligibility of some of its most promising
candidates. The sanctions against Gutierrez also indicate
that those who have fallen out of favor with the government
are not immune to its machinations. End Comment.
Downes
SIPDIS
HQSOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD
DEPARTMENT PASS TO AID/OTI (RPORTER)
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/13/2028
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREL VE
SUBJECT: PSUV GOVERNOR STRIPPED OF TITLE AND DECLARED
INELIGIBLE FOR RE-ELECTION
REF: CARACAS 00812
Classified By: ACTING POLITICAL COUNSELOR VERONICA TORRES
FOR REASON 1.4 (D)
1. (SBU) The Supreme Court (TSJ) opened an investigation into
corruption charges against Yaracuy Governor Carlos Gutierrez
in late May and subsequently stripped him of his charge. The
TSJ also declared the United Socialist Party of Venezuela
(PSUV) governor ineligible to run for re-election in the
November state and local elections. It is widely believed
Gutierrez was sanctioned because he refused to withdraw his
candidacy even after the PSUV backed Julio Cesar Leon
Heredia, following the party's June 1 primary elections.
Gutierrez's defense team has argued he can only be barred
from running for public office following a judicial ruling,
the same argument used by the opposition to protest the
status of nearly 400 ineligible candidates (Reftel).
2. (C) President of the Andean Commission of Jurists Carlos
Ayala told POLOFF June 12 that President Chavez, who is also
president of the PSUV, is "shamelessly" using the
state-controlled courts to push the initiative through and
punish Gutierrez. (Note: Gutierrez is reportedly the first
governor to be stripped of his title while in office.
Yaracuy's Lieutenant Governor will take over in the interim.
End Note). Meanwhile, Carolina Segura, Gutierrez's
court-appointed public defender, told POLOFF that Gutierrez
will continue to contest the corruption charges and the
legality of the TSJ's rulings. Segura said she had not
personally discussed the case with Gutierrez because he was
not present at his May 27 hearing.
3. (C) Comment. The TSJ's decision to sanction Gutierrez is
another example of the lack of judicial independence in
Venezuela and the courts' apparent subordination to the will
of President Chavez. Interestingly, the PSUV governor relies
on the same judicial arguments that the opposition uses to
contest the ineligibility of some of its most promising
candidates. The sanctions against Gutierrez also indicate
that those who have fallen out of favor with the government
are not immune to its machinations. End Comment.
Downes