US embassy cable - 05LAPAZ3518

UNCLAS LA PAZ 003518 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV, PREL, ECON, BL 
SUBJECT: VENEZUELA OVERSTEPS IN PRESIDENTIAL RACE 
 
1.  Summary:  In a diplomatic stumble, Venezuelan Charge 
d'Affairs Rafael Valero hailed Evo Morales as the 
anti-imperialist candidate and criticized Podemos rival Tuto 
Qurioga as the puppet of multinationals and the U.S. in a 
press conference on November 23.  Public reaction to 
Venezuelan "interference" in Bolivia's election was quick and 
overwhelmingly negative, culminating in a November 24 
demonstration in front of the Venezuelan Embassy here. 
Valero's comments may not permanently damage Morales, but 
they played into the polarizing strategy of his rival.  End 
summary. 
 
2. Venezuelan Charge d'Affairs Rafael Valero met on camera 
with the media on November 23 to respond to a series of 
letters written by Podemos candidate Tuto Quiroga to 
Venezuelan president Chavez warning him against continued 
interference in Bolivian affairs.  Valero, working himself 
into an angry lather, said Bolivians either were "with Bush 
or Chavez," adding that, "if Evo Morales is anti-imperialist, 
then long live Evo Morales."  He called Quiroga a lackey of 
the imperialist empire (us) and multinational interests. 
 
3. Public reaction to Valero's statements was quick and 
overwhelmingly negative.  Analysts publicly described them as 
"intolerable" and "excessive."  The Ministry of Foreign 
Affairs (MFA) responded within hours, blaming Valero for 
"clear interference in internal matters that does not become 
a foreign diplomat in our country."  The MFA further stated 
that it had summoned Valero in order to warn him about the 
inappropriateness of his actions. 
 
4. Quiroga was quick to respond, calling Valero's appearance 
an "enormous error" and "clear proof" of Chavez's policy of 
interference.  Even MAS vice-presidential candidate Alvaro 
Garcia Linera said Valero's declaration was "unacceptable," 
and "reaffirmed" that the MAS opposes "all external 
interferences in internal matters on the part of any 
Embassy."  A November 25 editorial in left leaning daily La 
Prensa added to the criticism, noting Venezuela's refusal to 
purchase Bolivian soy, its support for an energy ring 
excluding Bolivia, and the absence of a Venezuelan ambassador 
here since 2003.  It also mentioned that during Quiroga's 
previous term as president (2001-02), he led the regional 
reaction in support of Chavez when a civil-military coup was 
attempted against him. 
 
5. (U) Over one hundred people protested in front of the 
Venezuelan Embassy on November 24, burning a Venezuelan flag. 
 On the defensive,  Venezuelan Labor Minister Maria Cristina 
Iglesias, from Cochabamba, called Valero's statement 
"personal" and commented that "it can't stain or cloud the 
affection, love or respect that the Venezuelan government 
feels for the people of Bolivia, its government and its 
circumstances." 
 
6.  (U) Comment:  Valero's misstep ultimately may not effect 
the outcome of the election, but it plays into Quiroga's 
strategy of polarizing the race and hopefully convincing new 
middle class recruits to the MAS (EVO) to think twice before 
voting.  End comment. 
GREENLEE