PERSONAL ATTACK ON CHAVEZ MARKS INDEPENDENCE DAY CEREMONY

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 CARACAS 002123

DEPT FOR ACTING A/S ROMERO AND WHA/AND

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/07/09
TAGS: PGOV PREL VE
SUBJECT: PERSONAL ATTACK ON CHAVEZ MARKS INDEPENDENCE DAY CEREMONY

CLASSIFIED BY AMBASSADOR JOHN F. MAISTO. REASON: 1.5(B) AND (D).

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SUMMARY
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1. (C) POLITICAL GADFLY, KNEE-JERK LEFTIST, HISTORIAN, WELL-KNOWN
WRITER AND SPEAKER, FORMER CHAVEZ ALLY, AND DISAPPOINTED OFFICE
SEEKER JORGE OLAVARRIA LAUNCHED A SCATHING ATTACK ON PRESIDENT HUGO
CHAVEZ, CALLING HIM A "DEMAGOGUE" AND ACCUSING HIM OF VARIOUS
VIOLATIONS OF THE CONSTITUTION IN THE KEYNOTE SPEECH DURING THE
TRADITIONAL JULY 5 INDEPENDENCE DAY CELEBRATION. THE DIATRIBE,
WHICH OCCURRED IN CONGRESS AND BEFORE THE DIPLOMATIC COMMUNITY AND
THE NATIONAL MEDIA, WAS INTERRUPTED AT LEAST THREE TIMES BY SENATE
PRESIDENT AND CHAVEZ ALLY LUIS ALFONSO DAVILA. SUPREME COURT
PRESIDENT CELIA SOSA GOMEZ AND MEMBERS OF THE MILITARY HIGH-COMMAND
WALKED OUT OF THE SESSION.


2. (C) THE INCIDENT FOLLOWED THE TRADITIONAL READING OF VENEZUELA'S
DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE AND A CONCILIATORY, STATESMAN-LIKE
SPEECH BY CHAVEZ AT THE SENATE. INVITING OLAVARRIA, CLEARLY THE
WORK OF THE DEMOCRATIC ACTION (AD) PARTY AS AN ACT OF POLITICAL
REVENGE AGAINST THE PRESIDENT, BACKFIRED, AND WAS ROUNDLY
CRITICIZED BY MOST OBSERVERS, INCLUDING LEADING MEMBERS OF THE
OPPOSITION WHO WERE OFFENDED AT OLAVARRIA'S USE OF THE INDEPENDENCE
DAY KEYNOTE ADDRESS AS A FORUM FOR POLITICAL ATTACK. PRESIDENT OF
THE CHAMBER OF DEPUTIES AND OPPOSITION LEADER HENRIQUE CAPRILES,
WHO HAD WORKED HARD TO SECURE CHAVEZ' ATTENDANCE, EXPRESSED STUNNED
DISMAY AT OLAVARRIA'S ADDRESS. FOLLOWING THE INCIDENT, CHAVEZ
MAINTAINED THE HIGH-ROAD, STICKING TO PATRIOTIC THEMES DURING THE
MILITARY PARADE. END SUMMARY.

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ANOTHER INDEPENDENCE DAY LIKE ANY OTHER?
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3. (C) VENEZUELANS BEGAN THE DAY-LONG CEREMONY MARKING THEIR 188TH
INDEPENDENCE DAY WITH THE TRADITIONAL READING OF THE DECLARATION OF
INDEPENDENCE IN THE SENATE, WHICH WAS THEN FOLLOWED BY A
CONCILIATORY, STATESMAN-LIKE SPEECH BY PRESIDENT HUGO CHAVEZ. THE
CEREMONIES THEN MOVED TO THE CHAMBER OF DEPUTIES SIDE OF CONGRESS
WHERE IT IS TRADITIONAL FOR AN INVITED SPEAKER FROM OUTSIDE THE
GOVERNMENT TO DELIVER A KEYNOTE ADDRESS REVOLVING AROUND THE BROAD
THEMES OF VENEZUELAN HISTORY AND VALUES. THIS YEAR'S INVITED
SPEAKER, ATTORNEY, CONSTITUTIONAL ASSEMBLY CANDIDATE, AND FORMER
CHAVEZ ALLY JORGE OLAVARRIA LAUNCHED A SCATHING PERSONAL ATTACK ON
THE PRESIDENT.

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A PERSONAL ATTACK
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4. (C) OLAVARRIA CALLED CHAVEZ A "DEMAGOGUE" AND ACCUSED HIM OF
VARIOUS VIOLATIONS OF THE CONSTITUTIONS. MEANWHILE, CHAVEZ SAT
CALMLY BEHIND THE ORATOR, TAKING NOTES AND SHOWING NO SIGNS OF
DISCONTENT. OLAVARRIA'S WORDS CENTERED ON CHAVEZ' ALLEGED
DISRESPECT FOR THE NATION'S INSTITUTIONAL POWERS AND INSISTENCE ON
STEPPING OVER LAWS CONTAINED IN THE CONSTITUTION. "THE PRESIDENT,"
OBSERVED OLAVARRIA, "BELIEVES HE HAS RECEIVED ABSOLUTE DICTATORIAL
POWERS FROM POPULAR MANDATE...IN A TRAGIC EUPHEMISM OF POPULAR
WILL." "CHAVEZ," HE SAID, "DOES NOT BELIEVE HE NEEDS TO ABIDE BY
ANY OTHER LAW THAN POPULAR WILL." "IT IS CLEAR," SAID OLAVARRIA,
"THAT NOBODY CAN IGNORE THE REPEATED THREATS THAT THE PRESIDENT HAS
DIRECTED AT CONGRESS, THE SUPREME COURT AND ITS MAGISTRATES, THE
PUBLIC PROSECUTOR AND THE COMPTROLLER GENERAL, THE NATIONAL
ELECTORAL COUNCIL AND THE ARMED FORCES." "HE WRITES LETTER TO THE
SUPREME COURT CHALLENGING THEIR AUTHORITY--AND NOTHING HAPPENS,"
CONTINUED OLAVARRIA. "HE PUBLICLY ACCUSES MEMBERS OF THE COURT OF
CORRUPTION--AND NOTHING HAPPENS. HE SAYS THE CONSTITUTIONAL
ASSEMBLY IS GOING TO REPLACE CONGRESS AND THE REST OF THE
GOVERNMENT--AND NOTHING HAPPENS."


5. (C) OLAVARRIA ALLEGED THAT CHAVEZ "DISRESPECTED THE LAWS OF THE
CONSTITUTION" AND "OPENLY INSTIGATES DISRESPECT FOR CONGRESS."
ALTHOUGH THE PRESIDENT CLAIMS TO BE MOTIVATED BY REFORM, OLAVARRIA
ASSERTED, "HIS ATTITUDE IS NOT THAT OF A REFORMER." CHARGING THAT
THE PRESIDENT PRETENDS TO CREATE A "DE FACTO GOVERNMENT," OLAVARRIA
ASSERTED THAT "NOT A SINGLE CONSTITUTIONAL POWER HAS BEEN EXEMPT
FROM HIS THREATS." CHAVEZ' RECENT DECISION TO PROMOTE MILITARY
OFFICIALS IN SPITE OF SENATE DISAPPROVAL WAS ALSO CITED BY
OLAVARRIA AS AN EXAMPLE OF CHAVEZ' SCORN FOR THE INSTITUTIONS OF
GOVERNMENT. "HE PROMOTES MILITARY OFFICERS WHILE IGNORING THE
SENATE'S OPINION, DESPITE INSTITUTIONALIZED PROCEDURES FOR
PROMOTION," SAID OLAVARRIA, POINTING OUT THAT THE IDEA FOR
LEGISLATIVE CONFIRMATION OF VENEZUELAN MILITARY PROMOTIONS WAS
ORIGINATED BY BOLIVAR. HE ALSO ACCUSED CHAVEZ OF "UNDERMINING ONE
OF THE COUNTRY'S MOST PRESTIGIOUS INSTITUTIONS--THE ARMED FORCES."


6. (C) CONCLUDING, OLAVARRIA CALLED ON THE SUPREME COURT OF
JUSTICE (CSJ) TO DECIDE WHETHER OR NOT THE PRESIDENT'S ACTS MERIT
PROSECUTION. SHOULD THE CSJ JUDGE THAT THE PRESIDENT HAS
OVERSTEPPED THE LAW, RECOMMENDED OLAVARRIA, THE MATTER SHOULD BE
BROUGHT BEFORE THE SENATE. OLAVARRIA CALLED ON VENEZUELANS TO RID
THEMSELVES OF THEIR APATHY AND CONFORMITY AND ACT AGAINST "THIS
VIOLENCE AND IRREALITY." DEFENDING HIS PERFORMANCE DURING A POST-
CEREMONY INTERVIEW, OLAVARRIA SAID, "I AM ASSUMING MY
RESPONSIBILITY TO LEAD. THE PRESIDENT HAS CHALLENGED THE COUNTRY'S
INSTITUTIONS, AND I AM SAYING IT IS WRONG." OLAVARRIA SAID HE
MAINTAINED RESPECT FOR THE INSTITUTION OF THE PRESIDENCY, BUT "I
WILL NOT REMOVE MYSELF FROM PUBLIC DEBATE. THIS IS NOT TIME FOR
HISTORIC DISCOURSES, BUT TO TALK ABOUT WHAT'S HAPPENING NOW."

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REACTION TO THE SPEECH
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7. (C) OLAVARRIA'S SPEECH WAS INTERRUPTED AT LEAST THREE TIMES BY
SENATE PRESIDENT AND CHAVEZ ALLY LUIS ALFONSO DAVILA, WHO CALLED
FOR RESPECT FOR THE PRESIDENT AND THE CEREMONY. "YOU'VE INSULTED
CONGRESS AND ALL OF US WHO HAVE COME HERE IN A DAY OF UTMOST
SIGNIFICANCE FOR THE COUNTRY," SAID DAVILA, A RETIRED ARMY COLONEL.
"WE HAVE NOT COME HERE TO LISTEN TO YOUR INSULTS AGAINST THE
PRESIDENT." SUPREME COURT PRESIDENT CELIA SOSA GOMEZ AND MEMBERS
OF THE MILITARY HIGH COMMAND WALKED OUT OF THE SESSION. SOSA
DEFIANTLY ASSERTED THAT THE SUPREME COURT DOES NOT NEED ORATORS TO
DEFEND IT; "IT DOES QUITE WELL ON ITS OWN." MINISTER OF DEFENSE
RAUL SALAZAR STOICALLY OBSERVED THAT "THE MILITARY FOLLOWS THE
CONSTITUTION AND THE LAW," ADDING "IF THERE IS ANY QUESTION ABOUT
PROMOTIONS, THERE IS AN INSTITUTIONAL WAY TO SOLVE IT." PRESIDENT
OF THE CHAMBER OF DEPUTIES AND OPPOSITION LEADER HENRIQUE CAPRILES-
-WHO LOBBIED HARD FOR CHAVEZ TO ATTEND THE SPEECH--EXPRESSED
STUNNED DISMAY AT OLAVARRIA'S REMARKS, COMMENTING TO THE AMBASSADOR
THAT SPEAKER'S COMMENTS HAD GONE FAR BEYOND THE BOUNDS OF
PROPRIETY.


8. (C) SOCIAL CHRISTIAN PARTY (COPEI) CONGRESSIONAL FACTION LEADER
CESAR PEREZ VIVAS COMMENTED THAT "CONGRESS, AS A CENTER OF DEBATE,
HAS BECOME THE SCENE OF CRUDE CONFRONTATION." PEREZ CAST SOME OF
THE BLAME FOR OLAVARRIA'S EXCESSES ON CHAVEZ. "THIS IS PART OF THE
TENSE POLITICAL CLIMATE THAT HAS BEEN CREATED IN OUR COUNTRY," HE
SAID. "THE PRESIDENT HAS VERY AGGRESSIVELY BROUGHT ISSUES BEFORE
THE GOVERNMENT AND THE PUBLIC, ESPECIALLY IN THE PAST FEW
DAYS...THIS SPEECH IS A RESPONSE TO THESE ACTIVITIES." IT'S A
SHAME THAT IT HAS COME TO THIS," SAID PEREZ. "HOPEFULLY, THE TONE
AN TENOR OF THE DEBATE WILL DIMINISH AS MORE RESPECTFUL PUBLIC
DISCOURSE EMERGES." ECHOING DEFENSE MINISTER SALAZAR'S COMMENTS,
PEREZ CONCLUDED THAT "THE LAW AND THE CONSTITUTION MUST BE
INTERPRETED AND CARRIED OUT BY THE SUPREME COURT AND FISCAL
GENERAL." PEREZ' COPEI COLLEAGUE, CONGRESSMAN PEDRO SEGUNDO BLANCO
SAID OLAVARRIA "SHOULD HAVE HAD MORE RESPECT FOR THE OCCASION,
ALTHOUGH THE SPEECH DELIVERED AN IMPORTANT MESSAGE TO THE
PRESIDENT, WHICH REFLECTS THE VIEWS OF A LOT OF PEOPLE." FOREIGN
MINISTER JOSE VICENTE RAMGEL'S COMMENTS WERE ALOOF AND CIRCUMSPECT,
CRITICIZING OLAVARRIA FOR NOT SUFFICIENTLY UNDERSTANDING "HOW TO
INTERPRET THE NATIONAL PROCESS," OR THE COUNTRY'S CURRENT
SITUATION. RANGEL EXPRESSED RESPECT FOR OLAVARRIA'S RIGHT TO SELF
EXPRESSION, ALTHOUGH HE THOUGH IT WAS IRRESPONSIBLE OF HIM TO USE
THE INDEPENDENCE DAY FORUM FOR HIS OWN POLITICAL PURPOSES.


9. (C) OPPOSITION AD PARTY LEADER CANACHE MATA LAID THE
RESPONSIBILITY FOR OLAVARRIA'S SPEECH SQUARELY ON CHAVEZ.
"CHAVEZ," HE SAID, "HAS OFFENDED EACH OF THE COUNTRY'S
INSTITUTIONS, AND TODAY'S SPEECH IS THE CONSEQUENCE OF THAT
BEHAVIOR. BESIDES CANACHE MATA, PROJECT VENEZUELA (PV)
CONGRESSIONAL FACTION LEADER MIREYA RODRIGUEZ WAS ONE OF THE FEW TO
PUBLICLY SUPPORT OLAVARRIA'S PRESENTATION. "WE MUST CONFRONT THE
DICTATORSHIP THAT CONFRONTS US," SAID RODRIGUEZ. "THAT IS NOT TO
SAY THERE SHOULD NOT BE RADICAL CHANGE, BUT THAT CHANGE MUST TAKE
PLACE MAINTAINING RESPECT FOR INSTITUTIONS."

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CHAVEZ REFRAINS FROM RESPONDING
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10. (C) A TRADITIONAL INDEPENDENCE DAY MILITARY PARADE FOLLOWED
THE CEREMONY. THE BISHOP OF CARACAS OPENED THE PARADE WITH A
BENEDICTION CALLING FOR RENEWED FAITH IN GOVERNMENT, AND FOR THE
GOVERNMENT TO SUPPORT THAT RENEWED FAITH BY "MAKING SOCIETY MORE
JUST, AND REPRESENTATIVE OF THE PEOPLES' DESIRES." CHAVEZ
REITERATED HIS CUSTOMARY THEMES: "THE VENEZUELAN PEOPLE ARE THE
TRUE MASTERS OF THE VENEZUELAN GOVERNMENT," THE NEED TO RAISE A
FEELING OF DIGNITY AMONG THE PEOPLE, AND THE IMPORTANCE OF WIDER
MILITARY PARTICIPATION IN PUBLIC LIFE. "THE ARMED FORCES," SAID
CHAVEZ, "WILL WORK TOGETHER WITH THE REST OF THE COUNTRY TO BUILD
A TRUE DEMOCRACY BASED ON THE DESIRES OF THE PEOPLE, AND A STABLE
POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC SYSTEM." HIS ATYPICALLY SHORT SPEECH WAS
REPLETE WITH ALLUSIONS TO CHRISTIANITY, AND A PHILOSOPHY HE CALLS
"REVOLUTIONARY HUMANISM." CHAVEZ PRAISED THE ARMED FORCES FOR
DEFENDING HUMAN AND CIVIL RIGHTS, AND FOR ITS PATIENCE AND
CONSTANCY. "RESPECT FOR THE SOLDIER," SAID CHAVEZ, "IS RESPECT FOR
ALL VENEZUELANS." MAINTAINING THE HIGH-ROAD IN HIS REMARKS, CHAVEZ
REFRAINED FROM REFERRING TO OLAVARRIA'S DISCOURSE, STICKING TO
PATRIOTIC THEMES. THE PRESIDENT DID, HOWEVER, DECLARE THE END OF
A PERIOD OF "CORRUPTOCRACY" AND SAID THAT "VENEZUELA WAS OPENING UP
TO A PERIOD OF TRUE DEMOCRACY, ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL DEMOCRACY IN
WHICH JUSTICE PREVAILS...LEAVING BEHIND A TYRANNY OF COWARDS."
CHAVEZ CONCLUDED THE DAY'S REMARKS, LOOKING FORWARD TO THE UPCOMING
CONSTITUTIONAL ASSEMBLY WHICH WILL CONSTRUCT A COUNTRY THAT IS
"TRULY DEMOCRATIC AND REPRESENTATIVE OF THE PEOPLE."

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COMMENT
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11. (C) OLAVARRIA IS A GADFLY POLITICAL INTELLECTUAL, KNEE-JERK
LEFTIST, WELL-KNOWN SPEAKER AND AUTHOR WHO WAS VERY CLOSE TO CHAVEZ
DURING THE PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN, AND HAD HOPED TO RECEIVE A HIGH-
LEVEL APPOINTMENT IN THE CHAVEZ ADMINISTRATION. EARLY ON, HIS NAME
WAS FLOATED AS A POSSIBLE CANDIDATE FOR FOREIGN MINISTER, AND AT
ONE POINT HE BELIEVED HE WAS THE ODDS-ON FAVORITE FOR AMBASSADOR TO
SPAIN. CHAVEZ, HOWEVER, TUNED INTO OLAVARRIA'S OPPORTUNISTIC
MOTIVATIONS AND PERIPATETIC POLITICAL CONVICTIONS BEFORE APPOINTING
HIM TO A POST. INVITING OLAVARRIA TO SPEAK WAS CLEARLY THE WORK OF
THE AD PARTY AS AN ACT OF POLITICAL REVENGE AGAINST THE PRESIDENT,
BUT IT BACKFIRED. THE DIPLOMATIC CORPS WAS TAKEN ABACK BY THE
SPECTACLE, AND MOST OBSERVERS AGREE THAT IT BENEFITTED CHAVEZ.


12. (C) IN ANOTHER FORUM, AT ANOTHER TIME, OLAVARRIA'S COMMENTS
WOULD HAVE QUALIFIED AS GOOD GRIST FOR PUBLIC DEBATE, BUT MOST--
INCLUDING LEADING MEMBERS OF THE OPPOSITION--WERE CRITICAL OF
OLAVARRIA'S USE OF THE INDEPENDENCE DAY KEYNOTE AS A FORUM FOR A
POLITICAL ATTACK, WITH MANY USING THE WORD "OFFENSIVE" TO DESCRIBE
THE EVENT. A NUMBER OF INDIVIDUALS ARGUED THAT THE SPEECH, GIVEN
ITS PETTY CONTENT DIRECTED AT THE PRESIDENT, HAD NO PLACE AS PART
OF A CEREMONIAL ACT HELD IN CONGRESS. THE ONLY POLITICAL LEADER TO
LEND UNQUALIFIED SUPPORT TO OLAVARRIA'S VERBAL ADVENTURE WAS
DEMOCRATIC ACTION (AD) PARTY LEADER CANACHE MATA, WHO REACTED
DEFENSIVELY TO INQUIRIES ABOUT HIS VIEW OF THE SPEECH.


MAISTO