Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
99CARACAS3882
1999-11-22 17:19:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Caracas
how-toP 221719Z NOV 99 FM AMEMBASSY CARACAS TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 6348 INFO NSC WASHDC PRIORITY DIA WASHDC PRIORITY CIA WASHDC PRIORITY USCINCSO MIAMI FL AMEMBASSY BOGOTA AMEMBASSY BRASILIA AMEMBASSY BUENOS AIRES AMEMBASSY GEORGETOWN AMEMBASSY LIMA AMEMBASSY MEXICO AMEMBASSY MONTEVIDEO AMEMBASSY PARAMARIBO AMEMBASSY PORT OF SPAIN AMEMBASSY LA PAZ AMEMBASSY QUITO AMEMBASSY SANTIAGO AMEMBASSY TEGUCIGALPA AMEMBASSY GUATEMALA AMEMBASSY SAN SALVADOR AMEMBASSY SAN JOSE AMEMBASSY PANAMA AMEMBASSY MANAGUA AMEMBASSY MADRID
C O N F I D E N T I A L CARACAS 003882
USCINCSO ALSO FOR POLAD
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/22/09
TAGS: PGOV PREL VE
SUBJECT: CHAVEZ TO RUN AFTER ALL
CLASSIFIED BY JOHN F. MAISTO, AMBASSADOR. REASON 1.5 (D)
C O N F I D E N T I A L CARACAS 003882
USCINCSO ALSO FOR POLAD
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/22/09
TAGS: PGOV PREL VE
SUBJECT: CHAVEZ TO RUN AFTER ALL
CLASSIFIED BY JOHN F. MAISTO, AMBASSADOR. REASON 1.5 (D)
1. (U) SUMMARY: CHAVEZ HAS SAID HE WILL STAND FOR REELECTION.
THE DECEMBER 15 REFERENDUM WILL ONLY CONTAIN ONE QUESTION: ON
THE APPROVING OR NOT APPROVING THE NEW CONSTITUTION. END
SUMMARY.
2. (U) REVERSING A POSITION HE HAD PUBLICLY REAFFIRMED EARLIER
THE SAME DAY, PRESIDENT CHAVEZ ANNOUNCED NOVEMBER 19 THAT HE
WOULD RUN IN THE GENERAL ELECTIONS TO BE HELD SOME TIME THIS
SPRING. DURING HIS CAMPAIGN, ANC PRESIDENT LUIS MIQUILENA WILL
SERVE AS PRESIDENT. AS A RESULT OF CHAVEZ' DECISION, THE
DECEMBER 15 REFERENDUM WILL CONTAIN ONLY ONE QUESTION FOR THE
VOTERS: ON WHETHER OR NOT THE APPROVE THE CONSTITUTION. THERE
WILL NOT RPT NOT BE -- AS PREVIOUSLY ANNOUNCED -- ADDITIONAL
QUESTIONS ASKING THE VOTER WHETHER CHAVEZ SHOULD BE EXCUSED FROM
RUNNING, OR WHETHER THE VOTER WANTS THE GOVERNOR OF HIS STATE TO
RUN.
3. (C) NATIONAL ELECTORAL COUNCIL HEAD ANDRES CALECA TOLD THE
AMBASSADOR THE FOLLOWING THAT HE HAD BEEN SEEKING FOR A WHOLE
WEEK TO CONVINCE CHAVEZ TO AGREE TO RUN RATHER THAN SEEK
CONFIRMATION VIA THE REFERENDUM, SINCE THE LEGALITY OF PUTTING
ANY OTHER QUESTION THAN THAT OF APPROVAL OF THE CONSTITUTION IN
THE REFERENDUM IS CERTAINLY QUESTIONABLE. IN ADDITION, CALECA
NOTES THAT CONFIRMATION OF CHAVEZ IN OFFICE VIA THE REFERENDUM
WOULD SMACK OF THE PLEBISCITE WITH WHICH DICTATOR MARCOS PEREZ
JIMENEZ SOUGHT TO LEGITIMIZE HIS RULE IN THE 1950'S (AND OTHER
VENEZUELAN DICTATORS BEFORE HIM.)
4. (C) ASKED WHY CHAVEZ HAD BEEN HESITANT TO RUN, CALECA SAID
CHAVEZ CITED THE ADDITIONAL COST OF A PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION, AS
WELL AS THE DISTRACTION OF HAVING TO CAMPAIGN AT A TIME WHEN
THERE WAS MUCH SUBSTANTIVE WORK FOR HIM TO DO. CALECA ALSO
NOTED THAT CHAVEZ MIGHT FEAR GETTING A LOWER SCORE THAN HE DID
IN THE LAST ELECTION, DUE TO THE ONGOING DETERIORATION OF THE
ECONOMIC SITUATION BETWEEN NOW AND NEXT SPRING WHEN THE
ELECTIONS ARE HELD. (CALECA SAID HE THOUGHT IT MIGHT NOT BE
POSSIBLE TO GET THEM ORGANIZED BEFORE APRIL.) FINALLY, WE HAVE
ALSO HEARD THAT GOVERNORS OF CHAVEZ POLO PATRIOTICO COALITION
HAD OBJECTED TO HAVING TO RUN IF HE DID NOT AND WAS NOT
PROVIDING HIS COATTAILS.
MAISTO
USCINCSO ALSO FOR POLAD
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/22/09
TAGS: PGOV PREL VE
SUBJECT: CHAVEZ TO RUN AFTER ALL
CLASSIFIED BY JOHN F. MAISTO, AMBASSADOR. REASON 1.5 (D)
1. (U) SUMMARY: CHAVEZ HAS SAID HE WILL STAND FOR REELECTION.
THE DECEMBER 15 REFERENDUM WILL ONLY CONTAIN ONE QUESTION: ON
THE APPROVING OR NOT APPROVING THE NEW CONSTITUTION. END
SUMMARY.
2. (U) REVERSING A POSITION HE HAD PUBLICLY REAFFIRMED EARLIER
THE SAME DAY, PRESIDENT CHAVEZ ANNOUNCED NOVEMBER 19 THAT HE
WOULD RUN IN THE GENERAL ELECTIONS TO BE HELD SOME TIME THIS
SPRING. DURING HIS CAMPAIGN, ANC PRESIDENT LUIS MIQUILENA WILL
SERVE AS PRESIDENT. AS A RESULT OF CHAVEZ' DECISION, THE
DECEMBER 15 REFERENDUM WILL CONTAIN ONLY ONE QUESTION FOR THE
VOTERS: ON WHETHER OR NOT THE APPROVE THE CONSTITUTION. THERE
WILL NOT RPT NOT BE -- AS PREVIOUSLY ANNOUNCED -- ADDITIONAL
QUESTIONS ASKING THE VOTER WHETHER CHAVEZ SHOULD BE EXCUSED FROM
RUNNING, OR WHETHER THE VOTER WANTS THE GOVERNOR OF HIS STATE TO
RUN.
3. (C) NATIONAL ELECTORAL COUNCIL HEAD ANDRES CALECA TOLD THE
AMBASSADOR THE FOLLOWING THAT HE HAD BEEN SEEKING FOR A WHOLE
WEEK TO CONVINCE CHAVEZ TO AGREE TO RUN RATHER THAN SEEK
CONFIRMATION VIA THE REFERENDUM, SINCE THE LEGALITY OF PUTTING
ANY OTHER QUESTION THAN THAT OF APPROVAL OF THE CONSTITUTION IN
THE REFERENDUM IS CERTAINLY QUESTIONABLE. IN ADDITION, CALECA
NOTES THAT CONFIRMATION OF CHAVEZ IN OFFICE VIA THE REFERENDUM
WOULD SMACK OF THE PLEBISCITE WITH WHICH DICTATOR MARCOS PEREZ
JIMENEZ SOUGHT TO LEGITIMIZE HIS RULE IN THE 1950'S (AND OTHER
VENEZUELAN DICTATORS BEFORE HIM.)
4. (C) ASKED WHY CHAVEZ HAD BEEN HESITANT TO RUN, CALECA SAID
CHAVEZ CITED THE ADDITIONAL COST OF A PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION, AS
WELL AS THE DISTRACTION OF HAVING TO CAMPAIGN AT A TIME WHEN
THERE WAS MUCH SUBSTANTIVE WORK FOR HIM TO DO. CALECA ALSO
NOTED THAT CHAVEZ MIGHT FEAR GETTING A LOWER SCORE THAN HE DID
IN THE LAST ELECTION, DUE TO THE ONGOING DETERIORATION OF THE
ECONOMIC SITUATION BETWEEN NOW AND NEXT SPRING WHEN THE
ELECTIONS ARE HELD. (CALECA SAID HE THOUGHT IT MIGHT NOT BE
POSSIBLE TO GET THEM ORGANIZED BEFORE APRIL.) FINALLY, WE HAVE
ALSO HEARD THAT GOVERNORS OF CHAVEZ POLO PATRIOTICO COALITION
HAD OBJECTED TO HAVING TO RUN IF HE DID NOT AND WAS NOT
PROVIDING HIS COATTAILS.
MAISTO