MEXICO'S PRD MODERATES CLOSE RANKS AT EXPENSE OF

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 MEXICO 003800 SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PREL PINR MX SUBJECT: MEXICO'S PRD MODERATES CLOSE RANKS AT EXPENSE OF AMLO AND SMALL PARTIES REF: MEXICO 3594 ¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY: The new moderate leadership of the Democratic Revolutionary Party (PRD),on the heels of its victory in the internal elections (reftel),closed ranks in recent weeks at the expense of small parties and former party standard bearer Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador (AMLO). At its last National Executive Council meeting, the PRD decided not to form any political alliances for the July 2009 midterm elections, not even with the tiny Social Democratic Party (PSD),and expel any members who support candidates outside the party including AMLO. The PRD also complained to the Federal Electoral Institute that Convergencia and the Worker's Party (PT) should not be able to use the same name for their coalition--the Broad Progressive Front (FAP)--as the three parties had used previously. Other members of the Mexican left called for unity to avoid disaster in the next elections. END SUMMARY. Moderates Consolidate their Position -------------- ¶2. (SBU) The PRD National Executive Council Meetings November 29-30 and December 13-14 helped moderates consolidate gains in the aftermath of the disputed internal elections (reftel). Newly anointed PRD President Jesus Ortega of the New Left Faction (NLF) announced at the first meeting that the party would conduct an investigation into irregularities of the March 16 disputed internal elections, which according to party insider Maricarmen Soria was designed to consolidate his presidency, find out what went wrong, and warn the United Left Faction (ULF) led by Alejandro Encinas and AMLO that it had better shape up or face party sanctions. At the second meeting the party decided not to form any political alliances in the 2009 federal and state elections. Ortega later announced the decision by the Council to take away membership of anyone who supports candidates from other parties, including AMLO, which is stipulated in the party by-laws. AMLO Under Fire -------------- ¶3. (SBU) AMLO in recent weeks faced increasing criticism from within the PRD. Carlos Navarrete, PRD Coordinator of the Senate, said in a newspaper interview that AMLO was not a viable candidate because he is rejected by half the voters. The office of the brother of AMLO, Pio Lopez Obrador, released a statement indicating that AMLO would leave the party on January 25, which he later recanted. PRD Senator Antonio Soto said that AMLO should decide one way or the other whether he is leaving the party. However, Senator Ricardo Monreal, who recently left the PRD for the PT in order to continue the PT's representation in the Senate, called for an end to bitter infighting among the Mexican left. Deputy PRD Juan Guerra said that PRD party unity was now the priority and told Poloff the PRD needs all factions, including AMLO and his supporters. Despite his recent actions, Ortega said that he wants to work with AMLO to resolve any differences. Smaller Parties Weakened -------------- ¶4. (SBU) In the absence of an alliance with the PRD, prospects for the smaller parties weakened in the last few weeks. The leader of the Social Democratic Party (PSD), Jorge Carlos Diaz Cuervo, lamented that the PRD decided not to form an alliance with PSD after weeks of discussions with PRD leaders, which may mean the end of the PSD as a viable political party. A frustrated Diaz Cuervo called the PRD nothing more than a recycled PRI party run by party bosses and announced he would seek a federal investigation into how ex-candidate AMLO had been financing his political movement since 2006, alluding to the widespread rumor that the movement was subsidized by Mexico City government funds. Meanwhile, the Executive Office of Political Parties of the Federal Electoral Institute (IFE) ruled that the coalition between Convergencia and the Worker's Party (PT) could not use the name FAP. The Secretary General of Convergencia, Pedro Jimenez, said the decision would be appealed to the Judicial Branch's federal electoral tribunal. PRD had MEXICO 00003800 002 OF 002 complained to IFE that the name of the coalition, which no longer includes the PRD, should be distinct from that of the previous electoral cycle when the FAP consisted of the PRD, Convergencia and PT. ¶5. (SBU) COMMENT: Recent actions by the ruling moderate faction of the PRD--an internal investigation, the rejection of any alliances, the ejection of supporters of other parties, a complaint about the name of the alliance between Convergencia and PT, and criticism of AMLO--have made it more difficult for AMLO and the small parties in recent weeks. PSD, by many accounts, is in danger of disappearing altogether next year. Convergencia and PT, who will have a harder time campaigning if they cannot use the FAP brand (which carried both parties and the PRD to electoral gains in 2006),may also lose their registration if they do not garner two percent of Mexico's voters next July. If Ortega sticks to his word, AMLO will have a hard time campaigning for candidates from other parties within the PRD. Director of AMLO's Social Movements Ricardo Ruiz told Poloff that AMLO may request a temporary absence from the PRD to do so. With no alliance and a deepening internal division in the PRD, prospects continue to worsen for the Mexican left. END COMMENT. Visit Mexico City's Classified Web Site at http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/wha/mexicocity and the North American Partnership Blog at http://www.intelink.gov/communities/state/nap / BASSETT