EU ELECTION MONITORS UNCOMMITTED, BUT EYES ARE OPEN

C O N F I D E N T I A L LA PAZ 000214 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/29/2018 TAGS: PGOV PREL BL SUBJECT: EU ELECTION MONITORS UNCOMMITTED, BUT EYES ARE OPEN Classified By: EcoPol Chief Mike Hammer for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). - - - - Summary - - - - ¶1. (C) A European Union (EU) election observer advance team met with Emboffs and explained that many issues need clarification before the EU can commit to sending an observer team to monitor up to three referenda -- a presidential and prefects recall referendum which seems increasingly unlikely and two referenda on the constitution. The primary obstacle is the need for the ruling Movement Toward Socialism (MAS) and the opposition to reach consensus on referenda enabling legislation. The team also expressed that the EU may be reticent to observe a referendum on the MAS draft constitution because the Constitutional Tribunal is not functioning and the draft text was approved "illegally". The EU has no plans to publicly declare the process that led to the draft constitution was illegitimate and illegal; but, the team will provide Brussels with a seemingly impartial analysis of the current Bolivian political context. The EU representatives were perplexed by OAS Secretary General Insulza's statements during his recent visit to Bolivia -- where he all but endorsed President Morales' approach. Insulza's statements have left the opposition questioning the impartiality of the OAS; the opposition could even balk at an OAS observer mission. Therefore, to help defuse what is potentially going to be a volatile election (referenda) year, it is crucial for the EU and/or other impartial bodies to participate in election monitoring. End Summary. - - - - - - - - - - - - - EU Election Advance Team - - - - - - - - - - - - - ¶2. (C) Emboffs, at a request from the local EU Mission, met with an EU election observer advance team led by Stefano Gatto. The EU team described its objectives as twofold: to analyze the current political situation; and, to review the proposed referenda process. As the process remains undefined, Gatto explained the team's report would essentially suggest a "wait and see" approach regarding a decision to send observers. According to Gatto, the team met with national government and opposition officials, departmental (state) electoral authorities as well as leaders within the opposition-led departments of Cochabamba and Santa Cruz. Gatto explained that the team will file their report with the EU Commission's External Relations Directorate General and will brief member states. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Is an EU Observer Mission Likely? - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ¶3. (C) Gatto remarked that "many issues need to clarified" before the EU would commit to sending an election observer mission and that the EU would "review its options." Gatto noted there were three main issues: the dates for referenda need to be set; the number of referenda; and, last and most importantly, the Bolivian Congress has yet not passed the laws that would govern the referenda process. The EU team explained that they would perhaps not send an election observer mission unless both the ruling Movement Toward Socialism (MAS) and the opposition participate in crafting the referenda legislation in a democratic manner. (Comment: Given the current political climate and the Congressional impasse -- the Senate is controlled by the opposition and the lower house is controlled by President Morales' MAS party ) the EU may not get the type of consensual legislation it is seeking. End Comment). While Gatto stressed the EU team would not simply show up a few days before the polling if it decided to send an observer group, he was unclear on how long before, at times stating two months, other times mentioning six weeks. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - MAS Draft Constitution Illegal - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ¶4. (C) The EU team appeared to have spent quite a bit of time evaluating the process in which the Constituent Assembly arrived at a new draft constitution. The team reached the conclusion that the ruling MAS violated several internal assembly procedures as well as the legislation which established the assembly in approving the MAS draft constitution on December 9 in Oruro. The team specifically cited the fact that the MAS assembly leadership failed to provide the required 24-hours notice before convening the Oruro session. They also noted that the MAS violated the rule that required both majority (MAS) and minority (opposition) reports be discussed during the approval process. Gatto and his colleagues expressed concern over supervising a referenda that would serve to legitimate an illegal text. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - What About the Constitutional Tribunal? - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ¶5. (C) The team also relayed their concerns over the state of the Constitutional Tribunal. Currently the tribunal lacks the necessary quorum to function, therefore there is no court to hear complaints individual claims of civil rights abuses or if the government carries out extra-constitutional actions. The EU team wanted to know if the Constitutional Tribunal )- if functioning -- would have authority to rule on the legality of the MAS draft constitution. Emboffs responded that the tribunal )- per our understanding -- could not likely rule directly on the legality of the MAS text, but that it could rule on cases of violations of procedure and law by the MAS with regards to the Constituent Assembly process. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - The National Electoral Court (CNE) - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ¶6. (C) In discussions regarding the National Electoral Court (CNE),Emboffs expressed concerns over the recent actions of President Morales' newly appointed CNE justice Jose Luis Exeni. Within 24-hours of joining the court, Exeni and the other two justices on the court fired three key court directors; directors who will be critical to execution and administration of the 2008 referenda. Emboffs noted the firings were legal, but nonetheless raise red flags as the directors were long-serving court employees. ¶7. (C) The EU team acknowledged the firings were perhaps poorly timed, but argued that they were not prepared to make a statement against the Exeni court in their report, claiming the justices may have had legitimate reasons for the firings. (Comment: The EU team's reluctance to speak too critically of Exceni court may stem from the EU's observation of 2006 elections. In its final report of the 2006 elections, the observers praised the CNE and departmental courts for not showing political bias, but did find "room for improvement" in registration, voter registration procedures, and the dissemination of political platforms. End Comment). Nonetheless, the team stated they would ask Exeni )- who they were meeting the following day )- what the reason was for firing the three directors. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - The National Dialogue and OAS SYG Insulza - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ¶8. (C) The EU team expressed doubts that the dialogue between the MAS and the opposition to "reconcile" differences between the MAS constitution and opposition departments' autonomy demands would generate a national accord. The team expressed concerns that OAS Secretary General Jose Miguel Insulza's recent visit to Bolivia -- in which he endorsed the MAS draft constitution, President Morales' "change" agenda and expressed little concern for democracy in Bolivia )- was not helpful in advancing the national dialogue. - - - - Comment - - - - ¶9. (C) The EU team presented a thorough and unbiased analysis of the current political situation. Its recognition that the MAS draft constitution was achieved via illegal maneuverings shows that they do not accept Evo's public line. Unfortunately, Gatto and his team do not plan to make public their findings. The EU's participation in election monitoring has become more critical following Insulza's visit, as many members of the opposition have already questioned whether the OAS )- which we understand has agreed to monitor the referenda )- can act as an impartial observation body. A referendum on the constitution is likely to be extremely close, therefore observation by an impartial body is crucial, though not a guarantee, to preventing the already tense political climate from turning into violent conflict. ¶10. (C) The EU team's analysis that the process in which the MAS constitution was approved was illegal gives us an opening to encourage Brussels to voice to the Morales administration concerns over the MAS draft constitution and the state of democracy in Bolivia. If the EU were to decide not send an observer mission to avoid legitimizing an illegitimate process, it should state its reasons clearly, and ideally do so publicly. End Comment. GOLDBERG