ARGENTINA: BUENOS AIRES GOVERNOR'S OFFICE THANKS

C O N F I D E N T I A L BUENOS AIRES 000643

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/02/2039
TAGS: PREL PGOV SNAR AR
SUBJECT: ARGENTINA: BUENOS AIRES GOVERNOR'S OFFICE THANKS
AMBASSADOR FOR COLLABORATION

REF: BUENOS AIRES 0443 AND PREVIOUS

Classified By: Ambassador Wayne for reasons 1.4 (b) & (d).


1. (C) Summary: Secretary General to the Buenos Aires
Governor's Office Jose Scioli (JS) visited Ambassador Wayne
May 29 to extend the appreciation of his brother, Buenos
Aires Governor Daniel Scioli, for the Embassy's close
collaboration. JS is a chief adviser to Governor Scioli,
Argentina's former vice president and a leading presidential
contender. JS predicted the Kirchner-allied ruling Victory
Front (FpV) would win the June 28 mid-term congressional
elections in the province by a small margin. He added that
their narrow victory would probably cost them their
Congressional majority, an eventuality the FpV is prepared
for and which will force them to negotiate legislation. JS
acknowledged that his brother, who encountered violent
protests the day before while campaigning in the province's
rural interior, is feeling the pressures of running for
office. End Summary.

Appreciation for Embassy Collaboration
--------------


2. (SBU) Jose Scioli (JS) visited Ambassador Wayne May 29 to
bid the Ambassador farewell and to extend the Governor's
appreciation for the Embassy's close collaboration. As
Scioli's chief advisor, JS has been an approachable and
valuable contact of the Embassy. JS relayed that the
Governor particularly appreciated the Ambassador's helpful
recommendation earlier in the Governor's administration that
the province take a more active role against
narcotrafficking. JS said the Governor took the Ambassador's
suggestion on board and, as a result, the province has seized
more drugs in the Governor's 17 months in office than in
previous years. The Ambassador replied that fighting drugs
is a necessary and arduous battle that will take years to
address. JS readily agreed, noting that although the public
wants the situation resolved in months, it is a long-term
problem and affects all sectors of society. Commenting on
the challenges in stopping the transit of drugs, JS expressed
concern that although the United States might tighten
security along the Mexican border, drug traffickers will find
an alternative route.

The June 28 Mid-terms
--------------


3. (C) JS predicted that the Kirchner-allied ruling Victory
Front (FpV) would win the legislative elections on June 28,
but by a small margin (reftel). He added that the narrow
victory would probably cost them their majority in the
Argentine Congress, an eventuality for which the FpV is
prepared and that will force them to negotiate legislation.
The Ambassador replied that negotiation is healthy for a
democracy.


4. (C) JS acknowledged that his brother is feeling the heat
for running as a "symbolic candidate" in the June 28
legislative elections and referred to a highly publicized
incident the previous day when farm sector supporters pelted
the Governor with eggs while he campaigned in the province's
interior. JS relayed that the Governor knows that his
candidacy "is not good for his political career." The
Ambassador remarked that the Governor's strong declaration
regarding the protests demonstrated his courage. (Note:
Governor Scioli told the press that the protestors would have
to kill him to prevent him from working. According to press
reports, Scioli plans to campaign again in that particular
district.)


5. (SBU) JS asked the Ambassador for his views of the
congressional election's "symbolic candidates" ("candidatos
testimoniales"). (Note: This term, coined by the press and
the opposition, refers to candidates, such as Governor
Scioli, who are running for elected offices that they are not
expected to assume, in order to boost the FpV's victory
chances.) The Ambassador replied that although it is a smart
tactic by Peronist party president Nestor Kirchner (NK),the
FpV's leading candidate in the province, it is not good for
democracy. The Ambassador remarked that it was probably
difficult for Scioli to refuse such a request by NK, given
the heavy control of the national government over the
province's purse strings.


6. (SBU) In closing, JS thanked the Ambassador for his close
collaboration with Buenos Aires Province. The Ambassador
expressed appreciation for both JS's and Governor Scioli's
willingness to work with the Embassy on a wide range of
issues. He asserted that the Embassy will continue to

welcome close relations with the provincial government under
the new Ambassador.

Press
--------------


7. (SBU) Governor Scioli's office proposed issuing and
coordinating a press release on the meeting, praising the
Ambassador for his contribution to the bilateral
relationship. The Ambassador also made public his regrets
over the previous day's unfortunate incidents against
Governor Scioli.

Comment
--------------


8. (C) JS's comments confirm what is evident between the
lines in campaigning and press reports: the Scioli brothers
are in somewhat of a straightjacket to remain publicly loyal
to the Kirchners, though they maintain different views of
democracy and politics.


WAYNE