PRESIDENT GARCIA ON STATE OF THE UNION

C O N F I D E N T I A L LIMA 001169 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/12/2019 TAGS: PGOV ECON SOCI EINV SNAR KCRM PE SUBJECT: PRESIDENT GARCIA ON STATE OF THE UNION REF: A. LIMA 01010 ¶B. LIMA 01131 Classified By: Ambassador P. Michael McKinley for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) Summary: President Alan Garcia delivered his customary state of the union address on July 28, marking the 188th anniversary of Peru's independence. His speech was more inclusive, conciliatory and less self-congratulatory than previous years, prompting some to speculate that recent social unrest and the global economic downturn have put his administration into a more defensive mode. The President's address included a list of the GOP's accomplishments, a series of proposed reforms and an appeal for citizens to eschew violence and support their government. In political terms, Garcia's address implied a slight shift to the left, probably in an attempt to boost his low approval ratings. But as Garcia enters the fourth year of his presidency, he confronts the same basic challenge he faced when he took office in July 2006: i.e., how to turn Peru's robust growth into benefits for the entire population. Some observers assert that Garcia is unlikely to carry out major reforms in his final two years just as the electoral pre-season gets underway. Others contend that he still has an opportunity to spread Peru's economic growth more evenly, thereby keeping the lid on social unrest and preserving his future political prospects. End Summary. Two "Great Objectives" -------------- ¶2. (SBU) Breaking with his usual protocol and to underscore his intention to reach out more broadly, President Garcia shook hands with each and every legislator present before delivering his 90-minute state of the union address from Congress on July 28. Perhaps mindful of his low approval rating (around 20%),he exhorted Peruvians to renew their faith in their government and democracy, as a brighter future lay ahead. For example, he stated, "Let us strengthen our confidence, our self-esteem and our optimism...in just twelve years (2021) we should reach the bi-centenary of our independence as a first world country, developed and just." Calling them "two great objectives", he said that he would protect Peru's democratic order from internal and external radical threats and its economy from the effects of the global financial crisis. He acknowledged social discontent, that mistakes had been made, and promised to respond to the population's legitimate demands, but without giving in to the sort of violence that took place in Bagua last June 5. With respect to justice, he promised to reduce the number of inmates who had languished in jail without proper sentences. Regarding corruption, he said that convicted dishonest officials would be sent off to a special prison in the Amazon jungle. Garcia also announced that the GOP had budgeted two billion soles (approximately $663 million) for the Military's Basic Defense Nucleus, in order to modernize Peru's Armed Forces. He warned that "Whoever seeks to attack the Fatherland will be in for a terrible surprise, as Peru is prepared to defend itself in every field." Accomplishments Highlighted -------------- ¶3. (SBU) Garcia recounted a list of achievements made during his second administration, including a reported 50% drop in the country's level of illiteracy, 1,500 km of roads paved over the last three years, four times the number of cell phone connected since 2005, 389,000 potable water points serving 2 million people and the construction of 177,000 low-income homes. He said that domestic natural gas consumption increased from 220 million cubic feet per day in 2006 to 338 million in 2009, adding that the use of gas-powered vehicles rose from 1,800 in 2006 to 66,000 in ¶2009. In a nod to those citizens fearing that Peru's gas reserves might be running low, he indicated that domestic consumption would be a priority and said, "Let me be clear... we will urge the exporting companies to make more discoveries, which I'm sure are out there, but..the gas is for Peru's development, and later for export, if there is enough of it." Garcia also highlighted that back in July 2006, a gallon of 90 octane gasoline cost 12 soles and 99 centavos, but that the current price at the pump has dropped to 9 soles 55 centavos. ¶4. (SBU) In the area of electrification, Garcia stated that an "amazing" 3,045 population centers have been hooked up with electrical service for the first time, thanks to an investment of 607 million soles. He vowed to boost national power production over the next 12 months to 1,121 megawatts -- a 27% increase from current levels. Regarding agriculture, he said the sector grew 6.7% in 2008, mainly on rice, potato, corn, meat and dairy products, and that 50,000 more hectares of crops were planted than in the previous year. He also described a number of completed and planned large irrigation projects. On health, he thanked congress for integrating some seven thousand clinics and health centers with the major hospitals and EsSalud to create a "progressive and sustainable" universal health insurance system. He said that education was advancing in an "irreversible way" and that 129,000 teachers have been trained. Regarding labor matters, he said that the newly-created Contract Services Administration (CAS) provided vacation and social security benefits to some 80,000 workers who had previously not been eligible because they were under non-personal services contracts, and that civil servants unfairly dismissed during Alberto Fujimori's administration had been reinstated. Proposed Reforms -------------- ¶5. (SBU) Garcia also announced a series of proposed reforms on decentralization, education, health, justice, civil service and anti-poverty. Among the most controversial, he proposed a popular decentralization project ("nucleos ejecutores") that includes involving 18 to 25 year-old youths in the decentralization process and increasing funding for regional and local governments and municipalities so that they could more expeditiously carry out viable infrastructure projects. In addition, the President indicated he would propose electing 60 of Congress' 120 legislators half-way through the five-year legislative period, and promised to hold a referendum if his proposal was turned down by Congress. Reactions and Appraisals -------------- ¶6. (SBU) President Alan Garcia enters the fourth year of his presidency facing the same principal challenge that confronted his government since he took office in July 2006: how to turn Peru's strong growth into meaningful benefits for the entire population. The global economic downturn and the specter of renewed social unrest could threaten his plans to attract more foreign investment. In his speech, Garcia gave Peru's entrepreneurs, its youth and his Economic and Finance Ministers kudos for the country's still relatively strong economic performance. Although Peru's economy grew by a healthy 9.8% pct in 2008 (with an inflation rate of 6%),some economists believe that growth this year could be as high as 3%, but that Garcia's forecast of 6% GDP growth for 2010 and 2011 was optimistic. ¶7. (SBU) Even some of Garcia's critics acknowledge that the GOP has made progress in reducing poverty and expanding the national infrastructure. But many believe Peru is still lagging in health, education, public safety, decentralization as well as in the fight against the Shining Path (SL),drugs and corruption. Some accuse Garcia of being disingenuous on decentralization by blaming regional and local authorities for failing to execute public resources for infrastructure projects. The decision to introduce a runoff vote in regional elections could also be complicated. Some argue bureaucratic red tape is the real root of the decentralization problem and that the idea of creating "special implementation teams" to work within the strictures of the National System of Public Investment (SNIP) will only exacerbate problems and internal conflicts in rural areas. ¶8. (SBU) According to GOP statistics, poverty rates dropped from 48.7% in 2005 to 44.5% in 2006 and to 39.3% in 2007. But 36% percent of Peru's 29 million people remain mired in poverty, and polling suggests that many of them don't believe they have benefited from Garcia's free-market policies. Discontent over uneven distribution of economic benefits and Garcia's investor-friendly measures has boiled over several times, continues to be exploited by his ideological foes, and contributed to his low approval rating, which has dropped back down around 20% in some polls. On the flip side, Garcia's domestic political opponents still remain weak and divided, with no viable alternative program or leader yet in sight. ¶9. (SBU) On August 10, newly-appointed Prime Minister Javier Velasquez Quesquen was grilled on Garcia's state of the union address during the congressional hearings to confirm the President's new cabinet. Various deputies voiced their concerns about decentralization and the lack of progress in the fight against poverty. One deputy noted that poverty in the Amazon region is 71% and 56% in the highlands. Others criticized perceived GOP inaction in both the anti-narcotics and anti-corruption fights, noting that Shining Path terrorists allied with narcotraffickers remain active Upper Huallaga Valley (UHV) and the Apurimac and Ene River Valley (VRAE) coca production zones. Some said they did not believe that corruption will be overcome simply by building a special prison, while others remain troubled over reports of military and police complicity with narcotrafficking in the VRAE. Comment: In a More Defensive Mode? -------------- ¶10. (C) The Garcia administration's capacity has been diminished by two scandal-driven cabinet changes in less than one year. Garcia has also begun to face increased political challenges from opposition groups and others currently aligned with his APRA party that are jockeying for position in advance of the November 2010 regional elections and the April 2011 presidential elections. Latent potential for social violence remains high among the native Amazonian population and in the restive south. It is not yet clear if this discontent can be channeled into the electoral process, but some observers believe it's too late for Garcia to carry out significant state reforms during the fourth year of a five-year term. Just the same, others believe that he still has a window of opportunity to demonstrate that his administration can meaningfully distribute some of the prosperity accumulated by his free market policies. Spreading the wealth could still go a long way towards reducing social tensions, preserving Garcia's political options and paving the way for a relatively smooth future transition of power. End Comment. MCKINLEY