US embassy cable - 05TEGUCIGALPA1433

UNCLAS TEGUCIGALPA 001433 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR WHA, WHA/PPC, AND WHA/CEN 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV, PREL, KDEM, KCOR, KJUS, HO 
SUBJECT: NO DOUBLE "DIP"PING: SURPRISING RESULTS FOR SOME 
DIPUTADOS SEEKING REELECTION 
 
 
1.  With the general election approaching in the fall, a 
review of the results of Honduras' February primary elections 
tells an interesting story about Diputados (members of 
Congress) seeking reelection to the National Congress.  86 
current Diputados (46 from the Nationalist Party (PN) and 40 
from the Liberal Party (PL)) participated in the primary 
election cycle.  Of those, some of both parties' biggest 
names were defeated in the primaries.  Others will not be 
returning to the National Congress due to a Honduran law that 
prevents current legislators from keeping their positions 
while running for national office. 
 
2.  Eight very well-known Diputados failed to win their 
respective primaries:  Eduardo Kafati (PL), Rolando Cardenas 
Paz (PL), Maximilio Rosas Gamero (PL), Rodrigo Castillo 
Aguilar (PL), Oswaldo Ramos Soto (PN), Angelo Botazzi Suarez 
(PN), Jorge Carranza Diaz (PN), and Marlon Pascua Cerrato 
(PN).  7 other big-name Diputados forfeited their eligibility 
to be reelected by running for president or vice president, 
including PN presidential nominee Porfirio "Pepe" Lobo.  The 
others are: Rafael Pineda Ponce (PL), Jorge Arturo Reina 
(PL), Jaime Rosenthal Oliva (PL), Ramon Villeda Bermudez 
(PL), and Gilberto Goldstein (PN). 
 
3.  COMMENT:  Several of the Diputados who lost eligibility 
by running for national office are currently appealing the 
law that bans them from re-election to the National Congress. 
 Post is carefully watching to see if some of these party 
faithful try to make it on to the ballot through less than 
above-board maneuvering.  If these legislative giants are 
able to manipulate the reformed political process and gain 
access to this fall's ballot, the new reforms in the election 
process will have been for naught.  In that case, the only 
winner in the next election cycle will be the corrupt cycle 
of Honduran politics.  The losers will be the Honduran 
people, the rule of law, and democracy and transparency in 
government.  END COMMENT. 
Palmer