(U) CHAVEZ AND THE VENEZUELAN JUDICIAL SYSTEM

S E C R E T STATE 071048 NOFORN SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/09/2034 TAGS: PINR PGOV VE SUBJECT: (U) CHAVEZ AND THE VENEZUELAN JUDICIAL SYSTEM (C-AL9-01462) REF: A. CARACAS 002275 ¶B. CARACAS 000306 ¶C. CARACAS 000398 ¶D. CARACAS 000272 ¶E. CARACAS 000547 Classified By: SUZANNE MCCORMICK, DIR., INR/OPS. REASON: 1.4(C). ¶1. (C/NF) WASHINGTON ANALYSTS ARE PROVIDING POLICYMAKERS WITH AN ASSESSMENT OF VENEZUELA'S JUDICIARY AND THE EXTENT TO WHICH IT SERVES AS A CHECK ON PRESIDENT HUGO CHAVEZ'S POWER OR AS AN ENABLER OF HIS POLICY INITIATIVES. AS POST IS WELL AWARE, POLICYMAKERS HAVE CLOSELY FOLLOWED CHAVEZ'S INCREASINGLY AUTHORITARIAN MOVES AND SOME HAVE QUESTIONED IF HIS ASSAULTS ON THE COUNTRY'S DEMOCRATIC INSTITUTIONS REFLECT A SHIFT TOWARD PARTIAL AUTOCRACY. ANALYSTS GREATLY APPRECIATED POST'S INVALUABLE REPORTING TO DATE ON THE DYNAMICS BETWEEN CHAVEZ AND THE JUDICIARY. AS TIME AND RESOURCES PERMIT, ANALYSTS WOULD APPRECIATE ANY ATTENTION POST COULD DEVOTE TO THE RELATED TOPICS AND QUESTIONS BELOW. ¶A. (C/NF) HOW WOULD POST ASSESS THE LEVEL OF CORRUPTION AMONGST SUPREME TRIBUNAL OF JUSTICE (TSJ) JUSTICES OR LOWER LEVEL MAGISTRATES? ¶B. (C/NF) WHAT IS THE TSJ'S OR PROSECUTOR GENERAL'S PRIVATE POSITION ON PROSECUTING TACHIRA GOVERNOR CESAR PEREZ VIVAS OR INVESTIGATING TREASON CHARGES AGAINST CARACAS MAYOR ANTONIO LEDEZMA? ¶C. (C/NF) WHAT IS PRESIDENT CHAVEZ'S RELATIONSHIP WITH CHIEF JUSTICE LUISA ESTELA ((MORALES)) AND THE JUSTICES/MAGISTRATES? TO WHAT EXTENT IS HE ABLE TO EXERT INFLUENCE OVER THEIR DECISIONS AND TO WHAT EXTENT DO THEY SUPPORT HIS AGENDA? ¶2. (U) PLEASE CITE C-AL9-01462 IN THE SUBJECT LINE OF REPORTING IN RESPONSE TO THE ABOVE QUESTIONS. CLINTON