ELECTORAL PLAYING FIELD FAVORS CHAVEZ'S "YES"

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 CARACAS 000144 SIPDIS HQSOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD DEPARTMENT PASS TO AID/OTI (RPORTER) E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/02/2029 TAGS: PGOV KDEM VE SUBJECT: ELECTORAL PLAYING FIELD FAVORS CHAVEZ'S "YES" CAMPAIGN REF: CARACAS 001753 CARACAS 00000144 001.2 OF 002 Classified By: POLITICAL COUNSELOR FRANCISCO FERNANDEZ, FOR REASON 1.4(D) ¶1. (C) Summary: In the run-up to the February 15 constitutional amendment referendum to remove official term limits, President Chavez is tilting the electoral playing field strongly in favor of the "Yes" campaign. Despite flagrant abuse of electoral regulations and the illegal use of state resources for campaign purposes, Chavez has been nearly unrestrained by the Chavista-dominated National Electoral Council (CNE). The opposition, however, complains that their efforts to campaign for the "No" have been stymied by CNE censorship and independent media outlets appear cowed by GBRV intimidation. The bias is likely to further undermine the opposition's sluggish efforts to challenge Chavez's "Yes" campaign and motivate independent voters to go to the polls. End Summary. -------------- AMENDMENT RIFE WITH LEGAL IRREGULARITIES -------------- ¶2. (C) In order to fulfill Chavez's pledge to hold elections by mid-Feburary, the CNE has curtailed or eliminated several administrative steps stipulated in the electoral law to prepare for elections (Reftel). Most significantly, the CNE did not reopen the electoral registry (REP),resulting in the exclusion of thousands of eligible Venezuelans who have turned 18 since the REP was last opened in the run-up to the November 2008 election. University activists have repeatedly criticized that the newly eligible voters -- many of them students in their midst -- will be denied their right to vote because they are not in the REP. Denying these rights stands in stark contrast to Chavez's justification for the amendment as a means of "expanding" Venezuelans' rights to choose their leadership. Furthermore, the closely contested election could be decided by a small percentage of votes. Note. Prior to the November 2008 elections, almost 800,000 new voters registered, and the conventional wisdom is that many of them supported opposition candidates. End Note. ¶3. (C) In addition, the wording of the amendment itself is confusing and legally vague. The referendum wording, in convoluted language, asks voters whether they would approve an amendment to alter five articles of the constitution to "expand the political rights of the people." The question itself does not specifically mention "indefinite reelection" or the elimination of term limits. Because the amendment is a single "yes" or "no," voters must approve or disprove the entire slate of article changes which individually pertain to different offices (the presidency, governorships, mayors, and state and national legislators). The amendment also does not specify how the specific wording would change for each of the articles. If the "Yes" vote wins, the government will presumably update the Constitution as it sees fit. -------------- "YES" ADS SATURATE AIRWAVES -------------- ¶4. (C) The CNE allows President Chavez near unlimited access to state-owned TV and radio outlets, while placing severe restrictions on opposition "No" campaign materials. According to electoral regulations, parties can run only four minutes per day of campaign advertising on select TV stations. Opposition officials have complained to us that the CNE censors up to 25 percent of the advertising they submit for approval while Chavez's "Yes" campaign dominates state media outlets for far longer than the legally permitted four minutes per day. Un Nuevo Tiempo's Yenny De Freitas told Poloff January 29 that pro-opposition media outlet Globovision was voluntarily editing opposition campaign materials to "soften" the "No" message. Alejandro Vivas, the Sub-Secretary General of Copei, told Poloffs that in his recent meeting with CNE President Tibisay Lucena, she appeared to be "under real pressure" and was unusually dismissive of opposition concerns. Although the Venezuelan President has suspended his Sunday "Alo, Presidente" broadcast, he also continues to use near daily mandatory "cadena" broadcasts to bombard TV viewers with his justifications and arguments in favor of the amendment. ¶5. (C) Minister of Communication Jesse Chacon rejected CARACAS 00000144 002.2 OF 002 opposition criticism January 28, arguing that it was the "Yes" camp that was being truly affected by unbalanced press reporting and he asked the CNE to denounce media bias favoring the "No." Vicente Diaz, the sole independent CNE Rector, has called for greater equality between the campaigns but deferred judgment on the conflict. In November 2008, he played a key role legitimizing claims of campaign bias by speaking out against media privileges enjoyed by Chavez but not the opposition. In retribution, Chavez publicly suggested that Diaz has exceeded his writ and should consider stepping down. -------------- BIASED CNE -------------- ¶6. (SBU) The CNE has shown little desire to confront the Chavez government's failure to comply with electoral regulations, particularly open support from government bodies for the "Yes" campaign. The CNE ordered the "Yes" camp January 27 to remove campaign materials that were papering the Caracas city metro system, a violation of a legal prohibition on displaying partisan campaign materials in public institutions. Pro-opposition news daily El Nacional reported that as of January 30 the materials had not been taken down, and CNE President Tibisay Lucena responded that she would look into it. The opposition has also protested a giant "Yes" sign that was hung from the main entrance of the National Assembly and a forum held at the Ministry of Education in favor of the constitutional amendment, with no response from the CNE. ¶7. (SBU) The state-owned Petroleos de Venezuela (PDVSA) oil company is visibly backing the "Yes" campaign. Lucena argued January 29 that a parade of PDVSA trucks that carried "Yes" signs through an affluent section of Caracas in support of the referendum did not violate electoral norms because they are owned by cooperatives, not the state-owned oil company. PDVSA employees are also allegedly being required to "donate" 50 BsF, about USD 25 on the official exchange rate, to the "Yes" campaign. Rafael Zambrano, the executive secretary of the Federation of Venezuelan Petroleum Workers (Futpv), asserted January 29 that it was "shameful" that PDVSA supervisors were threatening to fire workers who did not contribute to Chavez's "Yes" campaign. ¶8. (C) The CNE announced in early January that it was extending the length of the election day from 4 to 6 p.m. The opposition has strongly criticized the move, which appears to be arbitrary and illegal. As an administrative body, the CNE does not have the legal authority to change the electoral law which stipulates the voting procedure. The opposition also alleges that extended hours are likely to unduly benefit the "Yes" campaign, since Chavez's electoral machine is better equipped than the opposition to use the extra time to round up voters who intend to abstain and deliver them to the polls. Chavismo can also count on the millions of signatures collected during the "petition drive" for the amendment as a means of monitoring who shows up to vote. -------------- COMMENT -------------- ¶9. (C) The CNE, given its past willingness to turn a blind eye to Chavista campaign abuses, is unlikely to take steps to punish "Yes" campaign irregularities. In previous elections, Vicente Diaz has been a lone voice of protest against the government, and his unwillingness to take on Chavez this time -- despite an apparent increase in Chavista campaign violations -- may indicate just how heavily the President is leaning on the CNE. End Comment. CAULFIELD