US embassy cable - 04CARACAS1749

C O N F I D E N T I A L  CARACAS 001749 
 
SIPDIS 
 
 
NSC FOR CBARTON 
USCINCSO ALSO FOR POLAD 
STATE PASS USAID FOR DCHA/OTI 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/17/2014 
TAGS: PGOV, PHUM, KDEM, VE 
SUBJECT: DEPUTIES SIGNATURE APPEALS PROCESS BEGINS 
 
REF: CARACAS 1730 
 
Classified By: Abelardo A. Arias, Political Counselor, 
for Reasons 1.4(b) and (d). 
 
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Summary 
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1. (C) The signature appeals process for the recall of 14 
National Assembly deputies (13 from the opposition and one 
from the GOV coalition) takes place May 20-24, with appeals 
centers operating May 21-23.  The CNE decided May 19 to drop 
two opposition and one pro-GOV deputy from the appeals 
process ("reparos") when it was determined that there were 
not enough potential appeals to activate the recall 
referendum against them.  The National Electoral Council 
(CNE) set up on May 20 the 550 appeals centers in 11 states 
to operate for the following three days.  One AD deputy 
subject to recall reported low turnout in his district and 
complained that CNE officials had been slow and uncooperative 
in organizing the event.  Chavez supporters are confident 
they will collect enough signatures to force a recall vote 
against six to ten opposition deputies.  Some 35 
international observers have been deployed to the 
corresponding electoral districts.  End Summary. 
 
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Deputies Signature Appeals Begin 
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2. (U) The National Electoral Council (CNE) set up 550 
appeals centers in 11 states on May 20 to register signature 
appeals in the recall process against 14 National Assembly 
deputies.  CNE Director Jorge Rodriguez told reporters May 21 
that 100 percent of the centers had opened with minimal 
difficulties.  The centers are open May 21-23 for signers of 
the November 2003 petition to appeal either their inclusion 
or exclusion from those petitions.  During the signature 
drives in November 2003, Chavez supporters collected 
signatures against 32 opposition deputies; the opposition 
collected against 32 pro-GOV deputies (ref a). 
 
3. (U) CNE Director Jorge Rodriguez announced May 19 that 
three deputies -- one from President Hugo Chavez's Fifth 
Republic Movement (MVR) and two from the opposition -- were 
dropped from the process because even with 100 percent of the 
appealable signatures restored the threshold of 20 percent of 
registered voters in the electoral district would not be 
reached.  Rodriguez also indicated that, although the rules 
stipulate the CNE must announce the rules within four days 
(May 28), the CNE will likely hold off on the announcement 
until the results of the May 27-31 appeals for the recall 
process against President Hugo Chavez are known. 
 
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Revocable Deputy Complains of CNE Foot-dragging 
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4. (C) Accion Democratica (AD) Deputy Alfonso Marquina, 
subject to recall in Sucre, told Poloff May 20 that military 
officials in charge of delivering the appeals materials (as 
part of Plan Republica) were several hours late in arriving. 
Marquina also complained that, in preparation for the 
appeals, had delayed the training course for appeals agents 
three times, causing his volunteers to miss several days of 
work.  Marquina said the Coordinadora Democratica (CD) had 
"orphaned" the deputies subject to recall to focus on the 
presidential appeals.  Marquina said the AD party in Sucre 
was giving him its full support to field CNE agents and 
witnesses for the 29 centers (43 tables) operating in his 
state.  Marquina reported on May 21 that several centers had 
opened late and that attendance was low.  He noted that at a 
center with more than 3,000 potential appeals, only 50 
appeals had been collected in the first three hours of 
operation. 
 
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Comando Ayacucho Sees Success 
 
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5. (C) Jose Albornoz (Patria Para Todos), member of the 
pro-Chavez campaign committee Comando Ayacucho, told poloff 
May 21 they are sure they will activate the referendum 
against at least six opposition deputies.  Albornoz said that 
with excellent turnout the Chavistas may get enough appeals 
to force the recall against 10 deputies.  Albornoz said that 
if these 10 deputies are ultimately recalled, it would have 
no effect on the National Assembly, where the GOV already has 
a simple majority. 
 
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International Observers Deployed 
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6. (U) The OAS has 15 observers and the Carter Center (TCC) 
20 observers in 11 states to cover the appeals.  According to 
the rules, international observers will receive a copy of the 
daily tally sheets ("actas") at the close of each day.  The 
observers will not be doing a "quick count" for the deputies 
appeals. 
 
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Comment 
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7. (C) Chavez supporters initiated the deputies recall 
process as a counterweight to the presidential referendum. 
It has not generated much excitement among Chavistas, and 
hardly any among the opposition.  It is important 
procedurally, however, as the CNE will no doubt fold the 
appeals verification into that of the presidential appeals 
the following week.  The CD is watching closely, of course, 
as CNE practices during this appeals period will foreshadow 
that of the presidential appeals. 
SHAPIRO 
 
 
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      2004CARACA01749 - CONFIDENTIAL