PCN PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE SEES OPPORTUNITY TO WIN

C O N F I D E N T I A L SAN SALVADOR 001201

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/16/2018
TAGS: PGOV ES
SUBJECT: PCN PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE SEES OPPORTUNITY TO WIN

Classified By: Ambassador Glazer for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)


1. (C) Summary: The National Concilitation Party (PCN)
announced Tomas Chevez as its presidential candidate on
August 31. Chevez believes his religious affiliation and
experience make a first round win possible. End Summary.


2. (C) Poloffs met with PCN President Ciro Cruz Zepeda, PCN
Presidential Candidate Tomas Chevez, and Chevez,s principal
advisor, Marco Dimas Mejia, on October 16. Chevez's
candidacy was announced August 31. Chevez said that he
believes 40 percent of the Salvadoran electorate is undecided
and the PCN believes they have a chance to win the March 2009
presidential election on the first round of voting.


3. (C) Chevez said that 35 percent of the Salvadoran
electorate identified itself as evangelical Christian and
that these voters distrust both ARENA and the FMLN. He said
he was working directly with churches on a national level to
increase his base and says that his background - university
educated, experience in the business sector, and evangelical
Christian - will appeal to the Salvadoran people. When asked
about his platform, Chevez said that they would have a final
version soon and that it would focus on strengthening the
rule of law, unifying Salvadoran society, eliminating
corruption, working with the business sector to provide
better jobs, and developing policies to reduce poverty,
prevent children from joining gangs, and improve the
agriculture sector.


4. (C) Chevez and Dimas Mejia plan to travel to the U.S. in
mid-November to visit Salvadoran communities in Miami,
Washington, Houston, and elsewhere. Chevez said he hoped to
brief USG officials on his campaign and platform while in
Washington. PolCouns will undertake to pass along such a
request when received.
GLAZER