(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