Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09SANSALVADOR1103
2009-12-15 18:01:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy San Salvador
Cable title:
ARENA Expels Former President Saca
how-toVZCZCXYZ0000 OO RUEHWEB DE RUEHSN #1103 3491801 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O R 151801Z DEC 09 FM AMEMBASSY SAN SALVADOR TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 0127 INFO WHA CENTRAL AMERICAN COLLECTIVE
C O N F I D E N T I A L SAN SALVADOR 001103
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 2019/12/15
TAGS: PGOV PREL ARENA ES
SUBJECT: ARENA Expels Former President Saca
CLASSIFIED BY: RBlau, Charge, State, FO; REASON: 1.4(B),(D)
C O N F I D E N T I A L SAN SALVADOR 001103
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 2019/12/15
TAGS: PGOV PREL ARENA ES
SUBJECT: ARENA Expels Former President Saca
CLASSIFIED BY: RBlau, Charge, State, FO; REASON: 1.4(B),(D)
1. (SBU) On December 14, (conservative) ARENA's Executive Council
(COENA) expelled former President Antonio Saca (2004-2009) from the
party, charging that he had misspent $219 million of
unaccounted-for government funds, and citing improprieties in the
2008-2009 electoral process, claiming Saca had pressured mayors to
vote for specified candidates under penalty of being excluded as
ARENA municipal candidates. COENA also accused Saca of conspiring
to divide ARENA with twelve deputies who split from ARENA to create
a new political faction (GANA) in the Legislative Assembly. COENA
said Saca improperly transferred government funds to bolster his
own image, despite funding shortages for public health and safety.
Saca defended himself in a December 13 telephone interview with
center-left online newspaper El Faro, saying that the move was
engineered by ARENA members loyal to current COENA president (and
former President from 1989-1994) Alfredo Cristiani who feared that
Saca would seek re-election, which Saca denied. He also claimed
the funding transfer was authorized by law.
2. (C) Comment: Although coming as no surprise, ARENA's decision
fractures the party at a time when the ruling FMLN party's
hard-core socialist membership is consolidating its power. This
presents a challenge not only to ARENA, perhaps of its own
survival, but also to President Funes, as the FMLN continues its
long march to Chavez-style socialism in defiance of Funes's
attempts to steer the party in a more moderate direction.
BLAU
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 2019/12/15
TAGS: PGOV PREL ARENA ES
SUBJECT: ARENA Expels Former President Saca
CLASSIFIED BY: RBlau, Charge, State, FO; REASON: 1.4(B),(D)
1. (SBU) On December 14, (conservative) ARENA's Executive Council
(COENA) expelled former President Antonio Saca (2004-2009) from the
party, charging that he had misspent $219 million of
unaccounted-for government funds, and citing improprieties in the
2008-2009 electoral process, claiming Saca had pressured mayors to
vote for specified candidates under penalty of being excluded as
ARENA municipal candidates. COENA also accused Saca of conspiring
to divide ARENA with twelve deputies who split from ARENA to create
a new political faction (GANA) in the Legislative Assembly. COENA
said Saca improperly transferred government funds to bolster his
own image, despite funding shortages for public health and safety.
Saca defended himself in a December 13 telephone interview with
center-left online newspaper El Faro, saying that the move was
engineered by ARENA members loyal to current COENA president (and
former President from 1989-1994) Alfredo Cristiani who feared that
Saca would seek re-election, which Saca denied. He also claimed
the funding transfer was authorized by law.
2. (C) Comment: Although coming as no surprise, ARENA's decision
fractures the party at a time when the ruling FMLN party's
hard-core socialist membership is consolidating its power. This
presents a challenge not only to ARENA, perhaps of its own
survival, but also to President Funes, as the FMLN continues its
long march to Chavez-style socialism in defiance of Funes's
attempts to steer the party in a more moderate direction.
BLAU