SPAIN MAY PLANT IDEA OF NICARAGUAN RECOUNT AT EU

C O N F I D E N T I A L MADRID 001225

SIPDIS

WHA/CEN FOR ALBERT KRAAIMOORE
EUR/WE FOR STACIE ZERDECKI AND ELAINE SAMSON
USEU FOR BOB BLACKSTONE

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/20/2018
TAGS: PREL PGOV SP NI
SUBJECT: SPAIN MAY PLANT IDEA OF NICARAGUAN RECOUNT AT EU

REF: A. SECSTATE 122262

B. MADRID 996

Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission Arnold A. Chacon for reasons 1.4
(b) and (d).


1. (C) POLOFF discussed November 9 Nicaraguan municipal
elections and delivered points (ref A) November 20 to Spanish
MFA Sub-Direct General for Mexican, Caribbean, and Central
American Affairs Jorge Romeu Gonzalez-Barros. Romeu agreed
there had been "serious irregularities" but cautioned that
Spain was unsure of the reach of those irregularities. He
said it was not clear whether there had been massive fraud,
and that it would be difficult to ascertain whether the
irregularities had occurred universally or only in select
polling stations. Nonetheless, he agreed that the behavior
of Nicaragua's Supreme Electoral Council was unacceptable.


2. (C) Asked what approach the GOS was likely to take, Romeu
said Spain was inclined to let the investigation into
irregularities run its course and to consider any possible
action plan within a European Union context. In preparation
for a December meeting in Brussels, Romeu said that many EU
member states were angry and surmised there would be renewed
calls to end or severely curtail cooperation with Nicaragua
(ref B). Though the EU-Central America pact could be
considered a red line, Romeu asserted neither Spain nor the
EU would go so far as to "exile" Nicaragua over the
irregularities. Romeu called a November 11 EU communique on
the subject "prudent." (NOTE: Neither Romeu nor POLOFF
could locate the text to which he referred.)


3. (C) While noting Spain would adopt the eventual European
posture, Romeu opined that Spain's best bet for a bilateral
measure would be to cut off some form of bilateral support to
Nicaragua. Pending the results of a report to Chiefs of
Mission in Managua, Spain could consider reducing its
contributions to a multi-donor fund in support of Nicaraguan
police -- a more reasonable target than humanitarian aid in
the health sector. Romeu took on board the USG urging to
call for a transparent recount with observers present and
agreed to raise the topic in EU channels.
AGUIRRE