US embassy cable - 04CARACAS2037

C O N F I D E N T I A L  CARACAS 002037 
 
SIPDIS 
 
 
NSC FOR CBARTON 
USCINCSO ALSO FOR POLAD 
STATE PASS USAID FOR DCHA/OTI 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/17/2014 
 
TAGS: PGOV, PHUM, KDEM, VE 
SUBJECT: OPPOSITION DEVELOPING A "GOVERNANCE PACT" 
 
REF: CARACAS 2707 
 
Classified By: Mark A. Wells, Acting Political Counselor, 
for Reasons 1.4(b) and (d). 
 
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Summary 
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1. (C)  A "brain trust" of informal consultants is working 
with the Coordinadora Democratica (CD) to develop a 
post-Chavez governance plan to help convince Venezuelans to 
vote against President Hugo Chavez in the August 15 recall 
referendum.  Fernando Martinez Mottola, a consultant for the 
CD, said the plan, which includes the key issues of 
employment, personal security, health, education, and social 
security will create a basic framework and a set of 
objectives for an opposition-led government.  Opposition 
leaders told the Ambassador on June 16 that this governance 
plan will serve as the Coordinadora Democratica's (CD) 
substantive agenda for the referendum campaign.  Martinez 
said plan would be ready by June 25, but it would not be a 
major component of the campaign until some technical issues 
(i.e. automation, observers) are resolved.  Given the diverse 
composition of the opposition, it will be a challenge to 
develop a consensus agenda that resonates with voters.  End 
summary. 
 
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Opposition Develops Its Message 
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2. (C) On June 16, Fernando Martinez Mottola, a businessman 
and member of the opposition "brain trust" that consults 
informally with the CD, met with PolOff to outline the 
strategy behind a "governance pact," which aims to provide a 
broad strategic plan for a post-Chavez, opposition-led 
government.  The plan will include themes such as employment, 
personal security, health, education, and social security. In 
addition, the plan will address four central themes: 
reconciliation, decentralization, continuity of democracy, 
and social issues. 
 
3. (C) The political diversity of the opposition will not 
permit a detailed document, said Martinez, but rather broad 
guiding principles aimed at alleviating Venezuela's social 
problems, improving economic policy, and re-establishing 
institutional integrity.  Martinez said that the CD hopes to 
provide potential voters with a governance plan that 
incorporates ideas from previous opposition-affiliated plans. 
 Various transition plans have already been offered by Gente 
de Petroleo, economist Gerver Torres, academics at Andres 
Bello Catholic University, and a special CD committee. 
 
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Timing is Everything 
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4. (C) Martinez said the CD would not present its governance 
plan until technical referendum issues, such as automation 
and international observers, are resolved.  Martinez said the 
opposition must also attack Chavez effectively on social 
issues as part of its presentation.  He predicted the CD 
would not be ready to release the governance plan until a few 
weeks before the referendum.  (Separately, Martinez told the 
Ambassador June 16 the plan would be ready by June 25.) 
 
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Comment 
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5. (C) The opposition needs to maintain its unity above all 
and avoid fractious debates over transition plans.  But 
developing a common substantive agenda is a necessary 
component of its overall recall referendum campaign.  Finding 
a balance between satisfying its diverse composition and 
delivering a credible, meaningful message to the electorate 
remains the challenge for the opposition. 
 
6.  (C) At a June 16 luncheon hosted by the Ambassador, 
opposition heavy weights Alberto Quiroz, Teodoro Petkoft and 
Pompeyo Marquez insisted that for the referendum, the heart 
of the opposition's message would be negative - Chavez has 
failed. Within that message special attention would be given 
to the theme of the Chavez government's corruption. This 
message in any event is one the whole opposition can agree 
upon. 
SHAPIRO 
 
 
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      2004CARACA02037 - CONFIDENTIAL