Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09BUENOSAIRES1239
2009-11-20 19:36:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Buenos Aires
Cable title:
Argentina: President of the Chamber of Deputies Welcomes
how-toVZCZCXYZ0000 RR RUEHWEB DE RUEHBU #1239/01 3241936 ZNY CCCCC ZZH R 201936Z NOV 09 FM AMEMBASSY BUENOS AIRES TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0083 INFO MERCOSUR COLLECTIVE
C O N F I D E N T I A L BUENOS AIRES 001239
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 2019/11/20
TAGS: PREL PGOV ECON SOCI BL AR
SUBJECT: Argentina: President of the Chamber of Deputies Welcomes
Ambassador, Describes Tense Social Dynamic in Jujuy Province
REF: A) BUENOS AIRES 1183; B) BUENOS AIRES 1179
CLASSIFIED BY: Vilma Martinez, Ambassador; REASON: 1.4(B),(D)
C O N F I D E N T I A L BUENOS AIRES 001239
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 2019/11/20
TAGS: PREL PGOV ECON SOCI BL AR
SUBJECT: Argentina: President of the Chamber of Deputies Welcomes
Ambassador, Describes Tense Social Dynamic in Jujuy Province
REF: A) BUENOS AIRES 1183; B) BUENOS AIRES 1179
CLASSIFIED BY: Vilma Martinez, Ambassador; REASON: 1.4(B),(D)
1. (SBU) Ambassador paid an introductory call on a warm and
talkative Eduardo Fellner, President of Argentina's Chamber of
Deputies, November 12. Fellner, a strong supporter of President
Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner (CFK),speculated that the Lower
House might consider political reform legislation before the end of
the year, but that the Senate would certainly not be able to take
it up before the new Congress began next March. Of the
controversial political reform bill (ref A),Fellner said that the
draft law itself was not problematic, but that the politics of its
consideration were "difficult." Santa Fe province already had a
political primary system along the lines advocated in the bill, he
said, demonstrating that it was feasible. Fellner said he did not
expect that there would be a special session of Congress during the
three-month recess before the formal opening of Congress on March
1st.
2. (SBU) Speculating on the nature of the new Chamber of Deputies,
Fellner noted that there were "many personalities" entering the new
Congress, including former President Nestor Kirchner, his
successful political rival in the Province of Buenos Aires,
dissident Peronist Franciso de Narvaez, and the outspoken Civic
Coalition leader Elisa Carrio to name a few. Fellner declined to
speculate on leadership positions in the new Chamber of Deputies.
(Note: Half of the Deputy positions were filled in June mid-term
elections. The ruling FpV lost its majority, but as the largest
minority in the Chamber, it is technically entitled to retain
Fellner as Chamber President unless the other blocs join ranks and
former a larger bloc, which does not appear likely.)
Jujuy and its Bolivian Base
--------------
3. (C) In response to a question from the Ambassador about Milagro
Sala, a piquetero leader in Fellner's home province of Jujuy,
Fellner described the northern province's development and social
challenges. Before his election in 1999, he suggested, the
province had had little in the way of an economic development
strategy. Despite his efforts, many in the province were still
dependent on the state rather than the private economy.
4. (C) Fellner pointed out that 40 percent of Jujuy's population
had Bolivian roots or ties, many of them recent immigrants with few
resources. He described campaigning with then-presidential
candidate Nestor Kirchner in 2003 (when Fellner was running for a
second term) and complaining to Kirchner that the Argentine
Ambassador to Bolivia had never visited. In response, he noted,
Kirchner had asked him to recommend the next Ambassador. Fellner
selected Dr. Horacio Antonio Macedo, a lawyer who was serving as
minister of production and previously as minister of economy.
Fellner said he had worked to develop the province's ties to
Bolivia, which he described as somewhat challenging under President
Morales. (Fellner spoke fondly of former Bolivian President Carlos
Mesa as an intelligent and well-intentioned leader.)
Jujuy's Piqueteros
--------------
5. (C) Turning to Sala, Fellner described the significant resources
dispensed to her Tupac Amaru organization (ref B). The piqueteros
had used their national resources to create something like a second
state, including health services and housing programs, rendering
her a challenging figure to deal with. He said she was another of
many Marxist-leaning leaders to emerge from Jujuy's disenfranchised
population, though less radical than the notorious Carlos "Perro"
Santillan. She "has done much good," and "we are going to see more
of her," he concluded. (Note: Sala drew national attention when
she allegedly led a violent disturbance against visiting Radical
Party President Gerardo Morales in October, per ref B.)
Comment
--------------
6. (C) Fellner was gracious and warm toward the Ambassador,
encouraging her to continue the dialogue. His private commentary
about Sala was particularly intriguing given the support to her
movement from President Kirchner and Kirchner loyalists even after
the incident with Senator Morales.
Martinez
MARTINEZ
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 2019/11/20
TAGS: PREL PGOV ECON SOCI BL AR
SUBJECT: Argentina: President of the Chamber of Deputies Welcomes
Ambassador, Describes Tense Social Dynamic in Jujuy Province
REF: A) BUENOS AIRES 1183; B) BUENOS AIRES 1179
CLASSIFIED BY: Vilma Martinez, Ambassador; REASON: 1.4(B),(D)
1. (SBU) Ambassador paid an introductory call on a warm and
talkative Eduardo Fellner, President of Argentina's Chamber of
Deputies, November 12. Fellner, a strong supporter of President
Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner (CFK),speculated that the Lower
House might consider political reform legislation before the end of
the year, but that the Senate would certainly not be able to take
it up before the new Congress began next March. Of the
controversial political reform bill (ref A),Fellner said that the
draft law itself was not problematic, but that the politics of its
consideration were "difficult." Santa Fe province already had a
political primary system along the lines advocated in the bill, he
said, demonstrating that it was feasible. Fellner said he did not
expect that there would be a special session of Congress during the
three-month recess before the formal opening of Congress on March
1st.
2. (SBU) Speculating on the nature of the new Chamber of Deputies,
Fellner noted that there were "many personalities" entering the new
Congress, including former President Nestor Kirchner, his
successful political rival in the Province of Buenos Aires,
dissident Peronist Franciso de Narvaez, and the outspoken Civic
Coalition leader Elisa Carrio to name a few. Fellner declined to
speculate on leadership positions in the new Chamber of Deputies.
(Note: Half of the Deputy positions were filled in June mid-term
elections. The ruling FpV lost its majority, but as the largest
minority in the Chamber, it is technically entitled to retain
Fellner as Chamber President unless the other blocs join ranks and
former a larger bloc, which does not appear likely.)
Jujuy and its Bolivian Base
--------------
3. (C) In response to a question from the Ambassador about Milagro
Sala, a piquetero leader in Fellner's home province of Jujuy,
Fellner described the northern province's development and social
challenges. Before his election in 1999, he suggested, the
province had had little in the way of an economic development
strategy. Despite his efforts, many in the province were still
dependent on the state rather than the private economy.
4. (C) Fellner pointed out that 40 percent of Jujuy's population
had Bolivian roots or ties, many of them recent immigrants with few
resources. He described campaigning with then-presidential
candidate Nestor Kirchner in 2003 (when Fellner was running for a
second term) and complaining to Kirchner that the Argentine
Ambassador to Bolivia had never visited. In response, he noted,
Kirchner had asked him to recommend the next Ambassador. Fellner
selected Dr. Horacio Antonio Macedo, a lawyer who was serving as
minister of production and previously as minister of economy.
Fellner said he had worked to develop the province's ties to
Bolivia, which he described as somewhat challenging under President
Morales. (Fellner spoke fondly of former Bolivian President Carlos
Mesa as an intelligent and well-intentioned leader.)
Jujuy's Piqueteros
--------------
5. (C) Turning to Sala, Fellner described the significant resources
dispensed to her Tupac Amaru organization (ref B). The piqueteros
had used their national resources to create something like a second
state, including health services and housing programs, rendering
her a challenging figure to deal with. He said she was another of
many Marxist-leaning leaders to emerge from Jujuy's disenfranchised
population, though less radical than the notorious Carlos "Perro"
Santillan. She "has done much good," and "we are going to see more
of her," he concluded. (Note: Sala drew national attention when
she allegedly led a violent disturbance against visiting Radical
Party President Gerardo Morales in October, per ref B.)
Comment
--------------
6. (C) Fellner was gracious and warm toward the Ambassador,
encouraging her to continue the dialogue. His private commentary
about Sala was particularly intriguing given the support to her
movement from President Kirchner and Kirchner loyalists even after
the incident with Senator Morales.
Martinez
MARTINEZ