Uruguay: President-Elect Mujica's Cabinet Taking Shape

UNCLAS MONTEVIDEO 000758 SIPDIS FOR WHA/BSC MARY DASCHBACH E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PGOV UY SUBJECT: Uruguay: President-Elect Mujica's Cabinet Taking Shape Summary -------------- ¶1. (U) President elect Jose Mujica has buckled down to the business of appointing his cabinet. Mujica's selection process was complicated slightly by internal unrest within factions of the ruling Frente Amplio (FA) coalition, but those problems were resolved quickly. Although the announcement of the final cabinet is still pending, the most likely configuration sees Mujica heading a broad team that accords with each faction's electoral results and is dotted with loyalists. End summary. Putting the Pieces in Place -------------- ¶2. (U) Mujica has spent the time following his November 29 runoff victory forming the team that will comprise his cabinet. Cabinet positions will be distributed roughly in line with the first round election results. Accordingly, ""Espacio 609,"" a collection of factions that includes Mujica's own Movimiento de Participacion Popular (MPP) group and which received more votes than any other group, will take four ministries, thereby doubling its presence in the cabinet. Vice president elect Danilo Astori's ""Frente Liber Seregni"" (FLS) will hold three, including (as promised by Mujica) the Ministry of the Economy. The Socialist Party will hold two while the Communist Party and the Pensamiento-libertad (Free Thinking) Party (CAP-L) hold one each. Mujica's first crisis? -------------- ¶3. (U) The often fractious arrangement of the various parties and factions that make up the FA meant the appointment of Mujica's cabinet was bound to hit a few bumps. One cabinet pick, Ernesto Agazzi, an MPP stalwart loyal to Mujica, publicly refused the position of Minister of Culture and Education, claiming that not only had he not been consulted in the matter, he knew next to nothing about either subject. Mujica, who is hoping to push through significant educational reform, wants a close ally to hold the education portfolio. He worked hard, but without success, to persuade Agazzi to accept the post, and it now appears the most likely candidate will be the present mayor of Montevideo, Ricardo Ehrlich. ¶4. (SBU) Mujica's biggest headache, however, came from within the ranks of vice president elect Danilo Astori's FLS. The faction, which has only been in existence since August 2009, is composed of the three parties that supported Astori in his unsuccessful attempt to gain the FA presidential nomination: Astori's own Uruguayan Assembly (AU),the Progressive Alliance (AP) and the ""New Space"" party (NE). Friction arose after Fernando Lorenzo, a member of the NE and close ally of Astori, was appointed to head the economy ministry. This appointment upset Rafael Michelini, the ambitious head of the NE, who was hoping to occupy the NE's allocated cabinet space. He argued that Lorenzo's appointment should not be counted as part of the NE's quota of cabinet positions, since Astori had selected Lorenzo directly and without consulting Michelini. It appears that Michelini's arguments have fallen on deaf ears, that that Lorenzo will receive the position. There is some speculation that the situation may be ameliorated by the creation of a long planned Ministry of Science and Technology, with Michelini in the top spot. Alternatively, Michelini indicated that he may be placated by an ambassadorship. The probable line-up -------------- ¶6. (U) Below is Mujica's likely team as he begins his presidency. Some of the deputy ministers remain to be named: Ministry of the Presidency -------------- ¶7. (SBU) This position, comparable to that of a Chief of Staff, is a new post to be created by Mujica that will be filled by his closest advisor Eduardo Bonomi. Bonomi is expected to begin his time in cabinet as Minister of the Interior, shifting to the Ministry of the Presidency a few months after Mujica's inauguration and becoming, in effect, Mujica's alter ego. Sixty-one year old Bonomi joined the Tupamaro guerrilla movement in 1970. He spent 13 years in prison, having originally been sentenced to serve until ¶2012. After his pardon with the restoration of democracy in 1985, Bonomi worked for 15 years in the fishing sector. He belongs to Mujica's MPP faction, is a member of the Frente Amplio Coalition Board of Directors, and was Minister of Labor and Social Welfare from 2005 to 2009. Bonomi is a keen and able soccer player, is married to Congresswoman Susana Pereira and has three children. Minister of Economy and Finance -------------- ¶8. (U) Forty-nine year-old Fernando Lorenzo will be the new Minister of Economy and Finance. Between 2005 and 2008, Lorenzo was the director of the Ministry's Macroeconomic and Financial Consultant's office while Astori was minister and remains a close confident of the vice president elect. Lorenzo is well travelled, having worked as professor of economics in Paraguay, Cuba and Spain. He speaks French. Minister of Foreign Affairs -------------- ¶9. (U) Mujica selected a career diplomat and Uruguay's current Ambassador to China, 46 year old Luis Almagro, for Foreign Minister. Almagro was president of the National Committee of Cooperation for the Prevention of Illicit Drug Trafficking and Drug Abuse between 1989 - 1991, served as Deputy Director of International Economic Affairs for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs between 2003 and 2005, and has published on a range of international relations topics. Almagro served as Director of the International Affairs Bureau of the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries during Jose Mujica's tenure as Minister of Agriculture (2005- 2008) and is perceived as a trusted ally of Mujica. It is projected that Almagro will play a key role in future trade negotiations between MERCOSUR and China. Almagro is a former Blanco Party member, but currently a member of the MPP. He is from Rocha, is married and has seven children. Minister of Defense -------------- ¶10. (U) Another Tupamaro and member of Mujica's inner circle, Luis Angel Rosadilla, a parliamentary deputy since 2005 and the ex-chairman of the Defense Committee of the House of Representatives, has been selected as Minister of Defense. Nicknamed ""The Mouse,"" Rosadilla was born in 1953 and worked as a professional confectioner from the age of 13. In 1971 he joined the Tupamaros and was subsequently imprisoned between 1973 and ¶1982. On release from jail, he founded the radical 26 de Marzo party and embarked in studies in economics law and macro economics. Despite the depth of his hard left roots (from 2000-2005, Rosadilla also served as political secretary to Senator Eleuterio Fern????ndez Huidobro an ex-Tupamaro leader) Rosadilla is perceived as something of a moderate amongst extremists. Rosadilla hasn't lost his confectionary skills: between 1994 and 1999 he ran a pastry shop. He has six children from various partners. ¶11. (SBU) Note: In August of 2006, Uruguayan House Defense Committee members filed transit visa applications to travel to Haiti via Miami. The purpose of the delegation was to perform a site visit of the Uruguayan peacekeeping troops' operations on the island. The Consular section issued the majority of the visas, but informed that Rosadilla's visa would require additional time for administrative processing in Washington. Then-Ambassador Baxter extended formal apologies, but within three days, Rosadilla withdrew the visa application and publicly denounced the U.S. Government in the National Parliament for inappropriate treatment of an elected member entitled to executive rights and privileges. While the National Parliament did not in the end issue any formal declaration on the matter, the GOU nonetheless did present a formal note declaring that the decision regarding the visa had been received with surprise and concern as Mr. Rosadilla was a representative elected by the people of Uruguay. Since then, Mr. Rosadilla has not accepted any invitations from the Embassy, making specific reference to the visa situation on each occasion. Most Uruguayans believe his visa application was denied. End note. Minister of the Interior -------------- 12 (U) Eduardo Bonomi will serve as Minister of Interior until he takes office as the (still to be created) Minister of the Presidency (see paragraph 7). It is expected that Jorge Vazquez (brother of present President Tabare Vazquez and current Prosecretary"" in charge of of the executive emergency response, counternarcotics programs and money laundering programs) will take the role of Deputy Minister and is planning to succeed Bonomi as Minister. Sixty-five year old Jorge Vazquez is four years younger than Tabare Vazquez and is one of his closest advisors. Despite a generally low, independent profile today, in the 1970's Jorge Vazquez's involvement in leftist politics took a much more radical turn than that of his brother's, and between 1972 and 1984 he was imprisoned for his activities with various radical groups. Nicknamed ""The Dog,"" Vazquez is the second-ever male to graduate from the Uruguayan School of Nurses. His partner is also a nurse and he has four children. Minister for Education and Culture -------------- ¶13. (U) As detailed above, Ernesto Agazzi appears to have turned down running the Ministry for Education and Culture. His replacement as nominee is likely to be current Mayor of Montevideo Dr. Ricardo Ehrlich. Ehrlich has a professional background in Biochemistry and Molecular biology, much of which was undertaken in exile following Ehrlich's year and half imprisonment for his political activities with the Tupamaros in the late 60's and early 70's (he was arrested in 1972). He returned to Montevideo in 1987 to work as a professor of biology in the University of the Republic before becoming director of the University Biology Institute between 1994 and 1998. In 2007 he was awarded an honorary doctorate from France's Louis Pasteur Institute. Ehrlich is a member of the MPP but does not have a seat on the party board. He dances an impressive tango, cooks well and has two daughters from his first marriage. He speaks French, and understands English, but prefers to work with an interpreter. Minister for Public Health -------------- ¶14. (U) Current General Director of Public Health Daniel Olesker is set to be the next Minister for Public Health. Imprisoned for 3 years for radical political activities in the 1970's, the 57 year old Oleskar is a member of the Socialist Party, has been a university professor, a member of the umbrella union PIT/CNT think tank and is the author of several books and publications. He has two children, but lost an elder daughter to a car accident when she was 16. His live-in partner is a professor and education labor leader and his father served for many years as the President of the umbrella Jewish Community Organization. He is a supporter of the local ""Nacional"" soccer team. Minister for Transport and Public Works -------------- -------------- ¶15. (U) The position of Minister of Transport and Public Works goes to Enrique Pintado, a congressman and close adviser of Astori. A member of the Communist Party until 1992, he left to help found the more moderate AU faction. He is a member of the health workers union and was president of the House Foreign Affairs Committee in ¶2006. A fan of Uruguayan rock music and good eating, but a self confessed lousy dancer and lazy cook, the 51 year old Pintado is an experienced and widely published journalist and has released a volume of poetry. He is a noted supporter of the Penarol soccer team and a carnival enthusiast. Divorced with one daughter, he lives with his current partner. Minister for Livestock, Agriculture and Fisheries -------------- -------------- ¶16. (U) Independent Luis Aguerre, a rice and sugar cane farmer who has served as President of the Rice Farmers Association (ACA) since 2006, will be the new Minster for Livestock, Agriculture and Fisheries. The 52 year old Aguerre has a degree in Agricultural Engineering and is married with four children. Minister for Tourism and Sports -------------- 17.(U) Hector Lescano will retain the Ministry of Tourism and Sports, having been appointed by President Tabare Vazquez in 2005. President of the Christian Democratic Party (part of the AP, which is itself part of the FLS) the 61 year old Lescano is seen as one Vazquez's most trusted allies. A big fan of Uruguay's 'Liverpool' soccer team, in 2006 Lescano published a team history in honour of the team's goalkeeper. He has three sons from a previous marriage and currently cohabits with his partner. Lescano is a qualified veterinarian and has travelled in Latin America, China and Russia. Minister for Labor and Social Security -------------- -------------- ¶18. (U) The labor portfolio goes to Eduardo Brenta, the 50 year old founding member of the moderate ""Vertiente Artiguista"" faction who, as a formal member of a radical leftist group, was imprisoned by the military regime for several months in 1973. Brenta was elected to the Montevideo City Council from 2000-05 and served as President of the City Council from 2003-04. He was elected to Congress for the period 2000-05, re-elected for the term 2010-15 and was chairman of the Finance Committee of the House of Representatives in 2007. He is divorced with one daughter. Minister for Industry, Energy and Mining -------------- -------------- ¶19. (U) Roberto Kreimerman, a professor at the University of the Republic and holder of a raft of international degrees from chemical engineering to international trade, is the pick for Minister of Industry. Kreimerman, who already holds the position as Deputy Minister of Labor, is a member of the Socialist party and has a background in the leather industry. Kreimerman is 51 and is married with three children. He speaks French and basic English. Minister for Housing and Environment -------------- -- ¶20. (U) Although early rumours had Mujicas' wife, Lucia Topolansky, in line for the Housing, Environment and Water portfolio, the cabinet position has gone to Espacio 609's Graciela Muslera, an architect who has previously worked with Toplansky as an advisor on housing and land use planning. Muslera has served as the vice president of the National Housing Agency (ANV) since 2005. Ministry for Social Development (MIDES) -------------- -------------- ¶21. (U) The Ministry for Social Development (MIDES) stays in the hands of the Communist Party under the care of Ana Olivera, an ex-Tupamaro and FA board member, who is currently serving as MIDES' Deputy Minister. Originally trained as a teacher, Olivera directed the local administration division of the Montevideo municipality between 1995 and 2000 when she took the role as Director General for the Department of Decentralization. During her time as Deputy Minister, she helped in the delivery of the Emergency Plan and Equity Plan programs. She is single and has a son. SCHANDLBAUER