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