Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09CARACAS445
2009-04-07 21:37:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Caracas
Cable title:  

NATIONAL ASSEMBLY SEALS THE FATE OF CARACAS MAYOR

Tags:  PGOV KDEM VE 
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DE RUEHCV #0445/01 0972137
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P 072137Z APR 09
FM AMEMBASSY CARACAS
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 2875
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C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 CARACAS 000445 

SIPDIS

HQSOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD
DEPARTMENT PASS TO AID/OTI (RPORTER)

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/23/2029
TAGS: PGOV KDEM VE
SUBJECT: NATIONAL ASSEMBLY SEALS THE FATE OF CARACAS MAYOR
LEDEZMA

REF: CARACAS 441

CARACAS 00000445 001.3 OF 002


Classified By: POLITICAL COUNSELOR FRANCISCO FERNANDEZ,
FOR REASON 1.4(D)

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 CARACAS 000445

SIPDIS

HQSOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD
DEPARTMENT PASS TO AID/OTI (RPORTER)

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/23/2029
TAGS: PGOV KDEM VE
SUBJECT: NATIONAL ASSEMBLY SEALS THE FATE OF CARACAS MAYOR
LEDEZMA

REF: CARACAS 441

CARACAS 00000445 001.3 OF 002


Classified By: POLITICAL COUNSELOR FRANCISCO FERNANDEZ,
FOR REASON 1.4(D)


1. (C) Summary: The Chavista-dominated National Assembly
(AN) is set to pass the Federal District Law April 7 to
create a new Vice President of the Republic for Caracas,
appointed by President Chavez, whose authorities are expected
to completely marginalize the opposition Mayor of Greater
Caracas, Antonio Ledezma. In a final attempt to rally
support and exhaust his legal avenues, Ledezma has sought to
intercede the bill's passage by appealing before the AN, the
Supreme Court (TSJ),the Ombudsman's office, and the National
Electoral Council (CNE). All of these state institutions,
however, have been completely subjugated to the executive and
will not stand in the way of the law's approval. Its passage
will be a fatal blow to Ledezma's authority and probably that
of the four opposition (of five total) municipal-level mayors
of Caracas. End Summary.


2. (C) The AN is submitting the proposed law to a second
discussion and vote April 7, which is expected to pass by a
wide margin by the overwhelmingly Chavista legislature. The
law will create a Vice President of Caracas, to be appointed
by the executive, who will oversee the administration of
Libertador municipality -- the only of the five boroughs
technically within the capital district. The others (El
Hatillo, Sucre, Chacao, and Baruta) are located within
Miranda State and are all governed by opposition
municipal-level mayors. Ledezma's position administers the
Greater Caracas region, which includes all five boroughs. It
is unclear how the new VP position will interact with
Ledezma, but it seems likely that Chavez intends for his
appointee's authorities to supersede those of Ledezma -- and
if so, the AN and TSJ will make it happen.

--------------
LEDEZMA TRIES EVERYTHING
--------------


3. (SBU) In a highly-publicized event, Ledezma and his
supporters marched from the mayor's office to the AN April 6
to demand his right to an audience with the legislators. The
metropolitan police and National Guard tried to disperse his
crowd of supporters with rubber bullets and tear gas,
resulting in several injuries. The opposition media printed
front-page photos the following day of Ledezma with arms
raised confronting rows of police in riot gear. Ledezma was
allowed to enter the AN and meet with its secretary, Ivan
Zerpa, to turn in his petition for an audience -- which, as
of the next day, had not been answered. He published
half-page letters to the AN in local newspapers April 7
denouncing the bill and demanding his right to a legislative
audience.


4. (SBU) Ledezma has also submitted a request to the TSJ
for an injunction ("amparo") against the proposed law until
he is granted an opportunity to consult on the issue -- a
right legally guaranteed as an elected official. Ledezma
said that he distrusted the judicial system but pledged that
it is nonetheless necessary to comply with the law. He added
that "if necessary, I will give my life for the liberty and
democracy that the Venezuelan people deserve." Ledezma
submitted a complaint before the national omsbudman on the
grounds that the actions of the police had violated his human
rights. Minister of the Interior Tarek El Aissami responded
to Ledezma's complaints, arguing that the violence was the
mayor's fault for trying to breach the secure zone
surrounding the AN building. On April 7, Ledezma went before
the CNE to demand a popular referendum on the law.

--------------
COMMENT
--------------


5. (C) Ledezma has tried to block the passage of the
federal district law through every possible legal avenue, to
no avail. This marginalization comes on the heels of the
political persecution of opposition leader and Maracaibo
mayor Manuel Rosales (reftel),eliminating the two most
highly-visible opposition figures in Venezuela. The AN is
rumored to be drafting a similar law to create vice
presidencies for each state -- an effective method of
undercutting what remains of opposition wins in the November
2008 state and local elections. Prior to allowing the

CARACAS 00000445 002.3 OF 002


opposition to take office, Chavistas gutted the
municipalities and governorships the opposition won,
transferring productive assets to the central government.
Chavez then nationalized the ports and airports in opposition
states, depriving the opposition governments of another major
revenue stream. This latest move will strip political power
and much of the revenue from the opposition governors, making
it much more difficult to deliver any services to their
constituents. Opposition mayors who have a local tax base may
fare better, at least for now. End Comment.
CAULFIELD