FMLN CHIEF SEEKS ELECTORAL REFORM, COOPERATION

C O N F I D E N T I A L SAN SALVADOR 000363 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/22/2019 TAGS: PGOV PREL ES SUBJECT: FMLN CHIEF SEEKS ELECTORAL REFORM, COOPERATION WITH ARENA Classified By: Charge d'Affaires, for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (C) Summary: (Left-wing) FMLN Coordinator General and incoming leader of that party's legislative bloc, Medardo Gonzalez, is pleased with that party's electoral performance and has proposed to (conservative) ARENA that those parties share the Presidency of the Legislative Assembly. Gonzalez expressed hope that electoral reforms could be passed in the upcoming Assembly term and praised the U.S. role during the campaign and recent elections. He said the FMLN was working with President-elect Funes, proposing names of possible cabinet picks. Gonzalez plans to continue on as Coordinator General even as he leads the FMLN's bloc in the Assembly. End Summary. ¶2. (C) PolCouns met April 20 with Medardo Gonzalez, FMLN Coordinator General (i.e., the party's top official) and soon to be leader of the FMLN's bloc in the Legislative Assembly. Gonzalez said (and his body language indicated) that he was happy with the FMLN's performance in the 2009 municipal, legislative and presidential elections. Gonzalez is heading the FMLN's negotiating committee for the new Legislative Assembly to be seated May 1, and is bargaining with ARENA and other parties, primarily the (right-wing, opportunistic) National Conciliation Party (PCN),to designate officers of the Assembly. Gonzalez said the FMLN had proposed to ARENA that the two parties share the position of Assembly President (currently held by the PCN) between them, splitting the term evenly, arguing that this would most closely reflect the will of the Salvadoran electorate. (Note: In January 18 legislative elections ARENA received some 39 percent of the vote nationwide, the FMLN 43 percent, and PCN 9 percent.) In addition, Gonzalez said the FMLN has made a separate proposal to de-link the vote for members of the Corte de Cuentas (roughly equivalent to the General Accountability Office) from those for the Attorney General and Supreme Court. Gonzalez said the FMLN was disappointed with the Corte de Cuentas' poor performance over the years and believed wresting control of that body from PCN was a first step towards improvement. ¶3. (C) Gonzalez said that aside from addressing the economic crisis facing El Salvador, electoral reform would be one of the FMLN's highest priorities during the next Assembly term beginning June 1. Gonzalez was hopeful for real reform, including steps to improve the accuracy of the electoral list and corresponding reforms to the National Registry of National Persons, which is responsible for issuing Salvadoran identity documents. If the Funes government and the FMLN are focused solely on the economic crisis, Gonzalez said, they will miss other opportunities to make urgent reforms in El Salvador. ¶4. (C) Gonzalez said he believed the role of OAS and U.S. electoral observation missions had been quite beneficial and had ensured that the will of the Salvadoran people was reflected at the ballot box. He praised the USG's and Embassy's stance of neutrality between El Salvador's parties and candidates, specifically praising former Ambassador Glazer's repeated public statements during th campaign. This position, he said, had been extreely positive for El Salvador during the campaignand elections. ¶5. (C) Discussing cabinet appoinments in the Funes government, Gonzalez said tha Funes "obviously" has the last word on appointmnts, but noted there were ongoing discussions between the President-elect, the FMLN, and the "Friends of Mauricio" as possible officials are vetted. He noted that several party members, including Hugo Martinez, Gerson Martinez and Roberto Lorenzana, were serving on the transition team vetting nominees and that the FMLN had provided a number of suggested names -- though not ultimatums -- to the President-elect. Gonzalez noted that Funes had said repeatedly during the campaign that he intended to form a broad, multiparty government. Gonzalez noted this would require a balance between the FMLN, the "Friends of Mauricio" and others from outside. ¶6. (C) Gonzalez said he will continue to serve as FMLN Coordinator General even after he takes his seat in the Legislative Assembly and takes the reins of the FMLN's bloc from Vice President-elect Salvador Sanchez Ceren. Gonzalez expressed hope for a continued productive relationship with the U.S. Embassy, noting progress on wiretap legislation was based on a compromise brokered by the Mission. Gonzalez said the first vote on the needed constitutional amendment should be approved by April 24. ¶7. (C) Comment: The FMLN's proposal to share the position of Legislative Assembly President with ARENA would not just more closely reflect the will of the Salvadoran electorate, as Gonzalez suggests, it would also have the benefit, from the FMLN's view, of excluding the PCN from a key position. That level of cooperation between ARENA and the FMLN would be unprecedented in post-war El Salvador and would be devastating to the PCN, whose influence is based on its position as kingmaker and as essential ally to any party that needs a working majority in the Assembly. ARENA will not abandon the PCN lightly, as that party will be key to blocking FMLN initiatives in the Assembly, and is probably loath to upset its long-term legislative ally. BLAU