BOLIVIA: AMB MEETING WITH NATIONAL UNITY MAYORS

C O N F I D E N T I A L LA PAZ 000625

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/19/2018
TAGS: EAID PGOV PREL EMIN BL PINR SENV
SUBJECT: BOLIVIA: AMB MEETING WITH NATIONAL UNITY MAYORS


Classified By: Acting EcoPol Chief Joe Relk for reasons 1.4b,d


1. (SBU) At the invitation of the head of National Unity
party leader Samuel Doria Medina, the Ambassador and officers
from EcoPol and USAID met with 22 of the Bolivia's 23
National Unity mayors (one mayor was unable to attend.)
Doria Medina organized the gathering of his party's mayors so
that they could meet with the Cuban Ambassador, the U.S.
Ambassador, and the EU Ambassador to present their
communities' needs. The mayors represent municipalities in
seven of Bolivia's nine departments (states).


2. (C) During the meeting, a select group presented
descriptions of their municipalities and needs. A common
complaint was that USAID's large projects often do not reach
small municipalities (Note: Since USAID works in over 200
municipalities, roughly two-thirds of Bolivia's total, this
perception seems skewed. End note.) Several mayors made
requests for heavy machinery or road building, projects
outside the scope of USAID's programs in Bolivia. Also
impossible for USAID is the request that the money be handed
out directly to the mayors, as is Venezuelan practice. The
assembled Mayors and Doria Medina stated that every one of
the municipalities had received Venezuelan aid in the form of
checks handed out by President Evo Morales.

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Medina Preempts Conspiracy Charge
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3. (C) Meeting the same day with the Cuban and EU missions
and opening our meeting to the press insulated both National
Unity and U.S. participants from charges of "conspiracy," as
the central government has previously described our meetings
with opposition groups. When the question of conspiracy
between the UN and U.S. was raised by a reporter, Doria
Medina said, "Yes we are conspiring: we are conspiring
against poverty and for a better life for our people." The
press-release for the event stated that the goal was to
establish strategic alliances and gain international support
rejected by the central government, and Doria Medina made a
point of saying, "If the government expels USAID from the
Chapare, USAID should come to the towns run by National
Unity." (Note: On March 6, President Morales asked cocalero
followers in a public meeting whether USAID should be
expelled from the Chapare, and then answered his own question
in the affirmative. End note.)

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UN Party Background
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5. (SBU) The National Unity (Unidad Nacional or UN) party
formed in 2003 and elected its internal leadership in 2004.
Many in the party are former members of ex-President Jaime
Paz Zamorra's MIR party. In regional and local elections,
National Unity has won representation at low but consistent
levels: one senator, seven congress members, six Constituent
Assembly members, twenty-three mayors in seven of Bolivia's
nine departments (states),and 120 municipal council members.
National Unity holds just under ten percent of the country's
mayorships. Samuel Doria Medina, elected president of the
National Unity party in 2005, owns Bolivia's most successful
cement business and the country's Burger King franchise.

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Comment
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6. (C) The UN party is perhaps the most professionally-run
political party in Bolivia. While the ruling Movement Toward
Socialism (MAS) party and the main opposition party PODEMOS
are political umbrella organizations joining disparate groups
with at times conflicting political demands, the National
Unity party has tried to form a legitimate political party
with a unified vision. That has not prevented breaks within
National Unity, however, as in the case of respected
Constituent Assembly member and former National Electoral
Court member Jorge Lazarte. Doria Medina continues to
position his party as a middle-ground peacemaker in the
Bolivian political scene, often trying to mediate between the
opposition and the ruling MAS party. Many in the main
opposition party PODEMOS, however, distrust Doria Medina and
feel that he is too conciliatory to the MAS, while others
criticize him for putting his business interests before the
needs of his country and party. These critics argue he was
too willing to compromise with the MAS in the Constituent
Assembly in exchange for protection (or fair compensation)
for his businesses. While the MAS does occasionally attack
him publicly, his conciliatory tone and frequent calls for
dialogue have made him a much smaller MAS target than
PODEMOS' leadership. This may change as he has begun
campaigning against the MAS constitution, particularly in La
Paz, which Doria Medina views as Bolivia's "swing vote." He
argues that the opposition (the "no" vote) is sure to win in
the lowland opposition departments, while the MAS is
practically guaranteed a win in the altiplano, with only La
Paz left as a deciding voice.


7. (C) Samuel Doria Medina is known as a good organizer and
manager, and his initiative to bring all his party's mayors
to La Paz to meet with multiple international missions
highlights his managerial skills. Doria Medina ran for
president in 2006, finishing a distant third with 7.8 percent
of the vote, and he has continued hopes for the highest
national post. As a rich, white businessman, however, Doria
Medina lacks the populism and background currently needed to
gain the presidency in Bolivia. Doria Medina also lacks
President Evo Morales' charisma: in large public events,
Doria Medina generally exudes the charm of a technocrat.
Although he is likely to continue on the political scene,
Post does not expect Samuel Doria Medina to be elected
president any time soon. End Comment.
GOLDBERG