AUSTRIAN VIEW OF NICARAGUAN MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS

C O N F I D E N T I A L VIENNA 001697 SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR WHA/CEN (KRAAIMOORE) E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/21/2018 TAGS: PGOV PREL NU AU SUBJECT: AUSTRIAN VIEW OF NICARAGUAN MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS REF: STATE 122262 Classified by: Economic-Political Counselor J. Dean Yap for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) Polchief discussed reftel points November 20 with Andreas Melan, MFA Unit Chief for Latin America and the Caribbean. Melan agreed that the Nicaraguan municipal elections did not meet international standards. He said the declining democratic standards in Nicaragua have been an increasing concern for the EU; the current French term presidency has consistently included Nicaragua on the agenda in EU fora. Melan said a number of EU states that were providing budget support to the Nicaraguan government have recently reduced or frozen their assistance because the government has failed to adequately account for the funds. The GOA, by contrast, provides development assistance directly to local governments and NGOs in Nicaragua, and continues to be able to monitor those programs thoroughly, he said. ¶2. (C) Nevertheless, the EU has not yet addressed the issue of the November 9 elections. When it does, the GOA would support a strong message criticizing the election irregularities, he said. Melan questioned, however, whether it would make sense to call for a recount. Noting that the Nicaraguan government had already recounted the Managua vote, he averred that any official recount would only confirm the results of the flawed election. GIRARD-DICARLO