Cable Viewer

Currently released so far... 14629 / 251,287

### Articles

Brazil Sri Lanka United Kingdom Sweden 00. Editorial United States Latin America Egypt Jordan Yemen

### Browse latest releases

2010/11 2010/12 2011/01 2011/02 2011/03 2011/04 2011/05 2011/06
2010/11/28 2010/11/29 2010/11/30
2010/12/01 2010/12/02 2010/12/03 2010/12/04 2010/12/05 2010/12/06 2010/12/07 2010/12/08 2010/12/09 2010/12/10 2010/12/11 2010/12/12 2010/12/13 2010/12/14 2010/12/15 2010/12/16 2010/12/17 2010/12/18 2010/12/19 2010/12/20 2010/12/21 2010/12/22 2010/12/23 2010/12/24 2010/12/25 2010/12/26 2010/12/27 2010/12/28 2010/12/29 2010/12/30
2011/01/01 2011/01/02 2011/01/04 2011/01/05 2011/01/07 2011/01/09 2011/01/10 2011/01/11 2011/01/12 2011/01/13 2011/01/14 2011/01/15 2011/01/16 2011/01/17 2011/01/18 2011/01/19 2011/01/20 2011/01/21 2011/01/22 2011/01/23 2011/01/24 2011/01/25 2011/01/26 2011/01/27 2011/01/28 2011/01/29 2011/01/30 2011/01/31
2011/02/01 2011/02/02 2011/02/03 2011/02/04 2011/02/05 2011/02/06 2011/02/07 2011/02/08 2011/02/09 2011/02/10 2011/02/11 2011/02/12 2011/02/13 2011/02/14 2011/02/15 2011/02/16 2011/02/17 2011/02/18 2011/02/19 2011/02/20 2011/02/21 2011/02/22 2011/02/23 2011/02/24 2011/02/25 2011/02/26 2011/02/27 2011/02/28
2011/03/01 2011/03/02 2011/03/03 2011/03/04 2011/03/05 2011/03/06 2011/03/07 2011/03/08 2011/03/09 2011/03/10 2011/03/11 2011/03/13 2011/03/14 2011/03/15 2011/03/16 2011/03/17 2011/03/18 2011/03/19 2011/03/20 2011/03/21 2011/03/22 2011/03/23 2011/03/24 2011/03/25 2011/03/26 2011/03/27 2011/03/28 2011/03/29 2011/03/30 2011/03/31
2011/04/01 2011/04/02 2011/04/03 2011/04/04 2011/04/05 2011/04/06 2011/04/07 2011/04/08 2011/04/09 2011/04/10 2011/04/11 2011/04/12 2011/04/13 2011/04/14 2011/04/15 2011/04/16 2011/04/17 2011/04/18 2011/04/19 2011/04/20 2011/04/21 2011/04/22 2011/04/23 2011/04/24 2011/04/25 2011/04/26 2011/04/27 2011/04/28 2011/04/29 2011/04/30
2011/05/01 2011/05/02 2011/05/03 2011/05/04 2011/05/05 2011/05/06 2011/05/07 2011/05/08 2011/05/09 2011/05/10 2011/05/11 2011/05/12 2011/05/13 2011/05/14 2011/05/15 2011/05/16 2011/05/17 2011/05/18 2011/05/19 2011/05/20 2011/05/21 2011/05/22 2011/05/23 2011/05/24 2011/05/25 2011/05/26 2011/05/27 2011/05/28 2011/05/29 2011/05/30 2011/05/31
2011/06/01 2011/06/02 2011/06/03 2011/06/04 2011/06/05 2011/06/06 2011/06/07 2011/06/08 2011/06/09 2011/06/10 2011/06/11

### Browse by creation date

66 72 73 75 79 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10
1966/12
1972/02 1972/08
1973/04
1975/03
1979/08
1985/03 1985/05 1985/06
1986/05 1986/08
1987/06
1988/01 1988/03 1988/07 1988/08
1989/12
1990/01 1990/07 1990/08 1990/10
1991/05
1992/01 1992/03 1992/06 1992/09 1992/12
1993/01 1993/10
1994/12
1995/01 1995/04
1996/07 1996/11
1997/02 1997/05 1997/06 1997/10 1997/12
2000/05 2000/06 2000/09 2000/11
2001/02 2001/03 2001/05 2001/06 2001/07 2001/09 2001/10 2001/11
2002/01 2002/02 2002/03 2002/04 2002/07 2002/08 2002/09 2002/11 2002/12
2003/01 2003/02 2003/03 2003/04 2003/05 2003/06 2003/07 2003/08 2003/09 2003/10 2003/11 2003/12
2004/01 2004/02 2004/03 2004/04 2004/05 2004/06 2004/07 2004/08 2004/09 2004/10 2004/11 2004/12
2005/01 2005/02 2005/03 2005/04 2005/05 2005/06 2005/07 2005/08 2005/09 2005/10 2005/11 2005/12
2006/01 2006/02 2006/03 2006/04 2006/05 2006/06 2006/07 2006/08 2006/09 2006/10 2006/11 2006/12
2007/01 2007/02 2007/03 2007/04 2007/05 2007/06 2007/07 2007/08 2007/09 2007/10 2007/11 2007/12
2008/01 2008/02 2008/03 2008/04 2008/05 2008/06 2008/07 2008/08 2008/09 2008/10 2008/11 2008/12
2009/01 2009/02 2009/03 2009/04 2009/05 2009/06 2009/07 2009/08 2009/09 2009/10 2009/11 2009/12
2010/01 2010/02

### Browse by origin

A B C D F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W Y Z
Embassy Athens Embassy Asuncion Embassy Astana Embassy Asmara Embassy Ashgabat Embassy Apia Embassy Ankara Embassy Amman Embassy Algiers Embassy Addis Ababa Embassy Accra Embassy Abuja Embassy Abu Dhabi Embassy Abidjan Consulate Auckland Consulate Amsterdam Consulate Adana American Institute Taiwan, Taipei
Embassy Bujumbura Embassy Buenos Aires Embassy Budapest Embassy Bucharest Embassy Brussels Embassy Bridgetown Embassy Bratislava Embassy Brasilia Embassy Bogota Embassy Bishkek Embassy Bern Embassy Berlin Embassy Belmopan Embassy Belgrade Embassy Beirut Embassy Beijing Embassy Banjul Embassy Bangkok Embassy Bandar Seri Begawan Embassy Bamako Embassy Baku Embassy Baghdad Consulate Belfast Consulate Barcelona
Embassy Copenhagen Embassy Conakry Embassy Colombo Embassy Chisinau Embassy Caracas Embassy Canberra Embassy Cairo Consulate Curacao Consulate Ciudad Juarez Consulate Chennai Consulate Casablanca Consulate Cape Town Consulate Calgary
Embassy Dushanbe Embassy Dublin Embassy Doha Embassy Djibouti Embassy Dili Embassy Dhaka Embassy Dar Es Salaam Embassy Damascus Embassy Dakar Consulate Dubai
Embassy Freetown Consulate Fukuoka
Embassy Guatemala Embassy Gaborone Consulate Guayaquil Consulate Guadalajara
Embassy Helsinki Embassy Harare Embassy Hanoi Consulate Ho Chi Minh City Consulate Hermosillo Consulate Hamilton Consulate Hamburg Consulate Halifax
Iran RPO Dubai Embassy Islamabad Consulate Istanbul
Embassy Jakarta Consulate Jerusalem Consulate Jeddah
Embassy Kyiv Embassy Kuwait Embassy Kuala Lumpur Embassy Kinshasa Embassy Kingston Embassy Kigali Embassy Khartoum Embassy Kathmandu Embassy Kampala Embassy Kabul Consulate Kolkata Consulate Karachi
Embassy Luxembourg Embassy Luanda Embassy London Embassy Ljubljana Embassy Lisbon Embassy Lima Embassy Lilongwe Embassy La Paz Consulate Lahore Consulate Lagos
Mission USOSCE Mission USNATO Mission UNESCO Mission Geneva Embassy Muscat Embassy Moscow Embassy Montevideo Embassy Monrovia Embassy Minsk Embassy Mexico Embassy Mbabane Embassy Maputo Embassy Manila Embassy Manama Embassy Managua Embassy Malabo Embassy Madrid Consulate Munich Consulate Mumbai Consulate Montreal Consulate Monterrey Consulate Milan Consulate Melbourne
Embassy Nicosia Embassy Niamey Embassy New Delhi Embassy Ndjamena Embassy Nassau Embassy Nairobi Consulate Naples Consulate Naha
Embassy Ouagadougou Embassy Ottawa Embassy Oslo
Embassy Pristina Embassy Pretoria Embassy Prague Embassy Port Of Spain Embassy Port Louis Embassy Port Au Prince Embassy Phnom Penh Embassy Paris Embassy Paramaribo Embassy Panama Consulate Peshawar
Embassy Quito Consulate Quebec
REO Basrah Embassy Rome Embassy Riyadh Embassy Riga Embassy Reykjavik Embassy Rangoon Embassy Rabat Consulate Rio De Janeiro Consulate Recife
Secretary of State Embassy Suva Embassy Stockholm Embassy Sofia Embassy Skopje Embassy Singapore Embassy Seoul Embassy Sarajevo Embassy Santo Domingo Embassy Santiago Embassy Sanaa Embassy San Salvador Embassy San Jose Consulate Strasbourg Consulate St Petersburg Consulate Shenyang Consulate Shanghai Consulate Sapporo Consulate Sao Paulo
Embassy Tunis Embassy Tripoli Embassy Tokyo Embassy The Hague Embassy Tel Aviv Embassy Tehran Embassy Tegucigalpa Embassy Tbilisi Embassy Tashkent Embassy Tallinn Consulate Toronto Consulate Tijuana Consulate Thessaloniki
USUN New York USEU Brussels US Office Almaty US Mission Geneva US Interests Section Havana US Delegation, Secretary UNVIE Embassy Ulaanbaatar
Embassy Vilnius Embassy Vienna Embassy Vatican Embassy Valletta Consulate Vladivostok Consulate Vancouver
Embassy Windhoek Embassy Wellington Embassy Warsaw
Embassy Yerevan Embassy Yaounde
Embassy Zagreb

### Browse by tag

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
ASEC AEMR AMGT AR APECO AU AORC AJ AF AFIN AS AM ABLD AFFAIRS AMB APER AA AG AE ADM ALOW ACOA ATRN AID AND ADANA APEC ARABL ADPM ADCO AADP AL AMED AY AORG ASEAN ABUD AO ARF AGAO AGRICULTURE AROC AINF APCS AODE ACABQ AX AMEX AZ ASUP ARM AQ ATFN AMBASSADOR ACBAQ AFSI AFSN AC ASIG ASEX AER AVERY ASCH AFU AMG ATPDEA ASECKFRDCVISKIRFPHUMSMIGEG AORL AN AIT ANET AGMT ACS AGR AMCHAMS AECL AUC AFGHANISTAN ACAO
BR BB BG BEXP BY BA BRUSSELS BU BD BK BL BH BM BO BTIO BILAT BC BX BP BE BIDEN BF BBSR BT BMGT BWC BN BTIU
CPAS CA CASC CS CBW CIDA CO CODEL CI CROS CU CH CWC CMGT CVIS CDG CG CF CHIEF CJAN CBSA CE CY CD CT CM CR CONS CW CDC CN CONDOLEEZZA CZ CICTE CYPRUS COUNTRY CARICOM CBE COE CACS COM COPUOS CV CARSON CIVS COUNTER CFED CAPC CTR CKGR CHR CVR CLINTON COUNTERTERRORISM CITEL CLEARANCE CB CSW CIC CITT CARIB CAFTA CACM CDB CJUS CTM CAN CONSULAR CLMT CBC CIA CNARC CIS CEUDA CHINA CAC CL
DR DJ DHS DAO DCM DO DEFENSE DA DOMESTIC DK DOD DE DPRK DEPT DEA DISENGAGEMENT DOE DTRA DS DEAX
ECON ETTC EFIS ETRD EC EMIN EAGR EAID EU EFIN EUN ECIN EG EWWT EINV ENRG ELAB EPET EN EAIR EUMEM ECPS ELTN EIND EZ EI ER ET EINT ECONOMIC ENIV EFTA ES ERNG ECONOMY ELECTIONS EXIM ENERG EREL EK EDEV EPA ENGR ETRC ENVI EXTERNAL ELN EAIDS ECA ECOSOC EUREM EINVEFIN EDU EFINECONCS ETRDEINVECINPGOVCS ETC ENVR EAP EINN EXBS ENGY ECONOMICS EIAR EINDETRD ECONEFIN EURN ETRDEINVTINTCS ECIP EFIM EINVETC ECONCS ETRA ESA EAIG EUR EUC ERD ETRN EINVECONSENVCSJA EEPET EUNCH ESENV ENNP ECINECONCS ETRO ETRDECONWTOCS ECUN
FR FI FAS FOREIGN FTAA FREEDOM FBI FINANCE FAA FJ FTA FARC FAC FAO FM FINR FDA FOR FOI FO FMLN FISO
GM GG GERARD GT GA GR GTIP GLOBAL GV GL GOV GOI GF GH GANGS GTMO GE GCC GAERC GZ GAZA GY GUILLERMO GASPAR
HR HO HA HYMPSK HK HUMAN HU HILLARY HI HUM HURI HSTC HEBRON HUMOR
IZ IN IAEA IS IMO ILO IR IC IT ITU IV IMF IBRD IWC ITRA IRAQI IDB ISRAELI ITALY ITPGOV ITALIAN INDO ICAO ID IPR IRAQ INMARSAT ICRC INTERNAL IIP IQ ICJ ICTY ILC IRS IO IEFIN IA INTERPOL IEA INR INRB IAHRC ISRAEL IZPREL IRAJ IF ITPHUM IL IACI IDA ISLAMISTS IGAD ITF INRA INRO IBET INTELSAT IDP ICTR IRC
JA JO JM JP JUS JOHNNIE JOHN JOSEPH JAMES JIMENEZ
KOMC KNNP KFLO KDEM KSUM KIPR KFLU KPAO KE KCRM KJUS KAWC KZ KSCA KDRG KCOR KGHG KPAL KTIP KMCA KCRS KPKO KOLY KRVC KVPR KG KWBG KMDR KTER KSPR KV KTFN KWMN KFRD KSTH KS KN KISL KGIC KSEP KFIN KTEX KTIA KUNR KCMR KMOC KCIP KTDB KBIO KU KIRF KSTC KIRC KICC KSEO KSAF KPWR KIDE KR KNUP KCSY KFRDCVISCMGTCASCKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KOCI KNUC KMPI KPAONZ KHLS KNAR KPRP KHDP KHIV KTRD KWAC KTAO KJUST KTBT KACT KBCT KPRV KNDP KO KNPP KCRCM KAWK KVIR KX KPOA KCFE KVRP KMRS KBTS KHSA KSCI KFSC KMFO KENV KNNPMNUC KERG KPIR KCOM KAID KTLA KRCM KCFC KNEI KCHG KPLS KREL KFTFN KTFM KLIG KDEMAF KRAD KBTR KGIT KGCC KICA KHUM KSEC KPIN KESS KDEV KWWMN KOM KWNM KRFD KFRDKIRFCVISCMGTKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KRGY KREC KIFR KSAC KWMNCS KPAK KOMS KFPC KRIM KDDG KCGC KPAI KID KMIG KNSD KWMM
LY LE LABOR LU LTTE LA LI LG LH LO LAB LT LOG
MARR MX MASS MOPS MNUC MCAP MTCRE MRCRE MTRE MASC MY MK MAS MO MIL ML MTCR MEPP MG MAPP MR MU MZ MD MAR MP MA MOPPS MTS MLS MILI MEPN MEPI MEETINGS MERCOSUR MW MT MCC MIK MAPS MV MILITARY MARAD MDC MASSMNUC MUCN MEDIA MI MQADHAFI MPOS MPS MC
NZ NATO NI NO NG NL NU NPT NS NC NA NATIONAL NSF NDP NIPP NSSP NP NR NATOIRAQ NE NGO NAS NZUS NH NSG NAFTA NEW NRR NT NASA NAR NK NOVO NATOPREL NEA NSC NV NPA NSFO NW NORAD NPG
OTRA OECD OVIP OREP OPRC ODC OIIP OPDC OAS OSCE OPIC OMS OEXC OPCW OPAD ODIP OFDP OIE OFFICIALS OVIPPRELUNGANU OSCI OHUM OTR OMIG OSAC OBSP OFDA OVP ON OCII OES OCS OIC
PGOV PREL PARM PINR PHUM PM PREF PTER PK PINS PBIO PHSA PE PBTS PL POL PAK POV POLITICS POLICY PERL PA PCI PAS PALESTINIAN PNAT PPA PROP PREZ PRELPK PAIGH PO PROG POLITICAL PJUS PRAM PMIL PARMS PG PREO PINO PGOF PAO PDOV PSI PTERE PTE PRGOV PORG PP PS PKFK PSOE PEPR PDEM PINT PMAR PRELP PREFA PNG PTBS PFOR PUNE PGOVLO PHUMBA POLINT PGOVE PHALANAGE PARTY PECON PY PLN PHUH PEDRO PF PHUS PU PARTIES PCUL PGGV PSA PGOVSMIGKCRMKWMNPHUMCVISKFRDCA PGIV PHUMPREL POGOV PEL PINL PBT PINF PRL PSEPC POSTS PAHO PHUMPGOV PGOC PNR PROV
QA
RS RP RU RW RFE RCMP RIGHTSPOLMIL ROBERT RM RICE RO REGION RELAM ROOD RSP RF RELATIONS RIGHTS RUPREL REMON REACTION REPORT RSO
SZ SENV SOCI SNAR SY SO SP SU SI SMIG SYR SA SCUL SW SR SYRIA SNARM SPECIALIST SEN SN SC SF SCRM SARS SENVSXE SG SNARIZ SL SAARC SCRS SWE STEINBERG SAN ST SIPDIS SSA SPCVIS SOFA SENVKGHG SANC SHI SEVN SHUM SK SH SNARCS SPCE SNARN SIPRS
TRGY TBIO TSPA TU TPHY TI TX TH TIP TSPL TNGD TP TW TS TZ TN TC TF TT TK TD TL TV TERRORISM TWI TO TRSY TURKEY TSPAM TINT TFIN TAGS TR TBID THPY
UK UNSC UNGA UN US UZ USEU UG UP UNAUS UNMIK USTR UR UY UNHRC USPS UNSCR UV UNMIC UNESCO UNCHR USUN UNHCR UNEP USNC USGS USOAS USAID UE UNVIE UAE UNO UNDP UNODC UNCHS UNFICYP UNDESCO UNC UNPUOS UNDC UNICEF UNCHC UNCSD UNFCYP UNIDROIT UNCND
VE VM VT VZ VTEG VTIZ VTPREL VENZ VAT VC VI VN
WHTI WIPO WTRO WS WHO WTO WA WZ WI WBG WMD WWARD WHA WITH WTRQ WEU WMO WFP WB
XA XR XW XX XK XL XM XS XF XG XT XH XB XU XE XV XD XC XY XZ XQ XI XTAG
YI YM YL YMCS YE
ZU ZI ZP ZR ZOELLICK ZF ZO ZL ZH ZT ZB ZJ ZEALAND ZN ZA ZK ZANU

### Browse by classification

CONFIDENTIAL CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN SECRET SECRET//NOFORN UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY

### Community resources

Follow us on Twitter Check our Reddit Twitter this Digg this page Contact us on IRC

courage is contagious

### Viewing cable 08MANAGUA1505, NATIONAL ASSEMBLY ADJOURNS AFTER ELECTION FRAUD

If you are new to these pages, please read an introduction on the structure of a cable as well as how to discuss them with others. See also the FAQs
Understanding cables
Every cable message consists of three parts:

- The top box shows each cables unique reference number, when and by whom it originally was sent, and what its initial classification was.
- The middle box contains the header information that is associated with the cable. It includes information about the receiver(s) as well as a general subject.
- The bottom box presents the body of the cable. The opening can contain a more specific subject, references to other cables (browse by origin to find them) or additional comment. This is followed by the main contents of the cable: a summary, a collection of specific topics and a comment section.

To understand the justification used for the classification of each cable, please use this WikiSource article as reference.
Discussing cables
If you find meaningful or important information in a cable, please link directly to its unique reference number. Linking to a specific paragraph in the body of a cable is also possible by copying the appropriate link (to be found at theparagraph symbol). Please mark messages for social networking services like Twitter with the hash tags #cablegate and a hash containing the reference ID e.g. #08MANAGUA1505.

Reference ID | Created | Released | Classification | Origin
--- | --- | --- | --- | ---
08MANAGUA1505 | 2008-12-18 14:17 | 2011-06-01 08:00 | CONFIDENTIAL | Embassy Managua

Appears in these articles:
http://www.nacion.com/2011-05-30/Mundo/NotasSecundarias/Mundo2758456.aspx
http://www.nacion.com/2011-05-30/Mundo/NotasSecundarias/Mundo2758467.aspx
http://www.nacion.com/2011-05-30/Mundo/NotasSecundarias/Mundo2758468.aspx
http://www.nacion.com/2011-05-30/Mundo/NotasSecundarias/Mundo2758464.aspx
http://www.confidencial.com.ni/articulo/4103/la-embusa-y-el-gabinete-de-ortega
http://www.confidencial.com.ni/articulo/4104/d-rsquo-escoto-en-onu-ldquo-un-desafio-de-ortega-a-ee-uu-rdquo
http://www.confidencial.com.ni/articulo/4102/estrada-y-la-ldquo-doble-cara-rdquo-ante-ee-uu
http://www.confidencial.com.ni/articulo/3966/la-ldquo-injerencia-rdquo-de-ee-uu-en-el-2006
http://www.nacion.com/2011-05-23/Mundo/Relacionados/Mundo2758764.aspx
http://www.nacion.com/2011-05-23/Mundo/NotaPrincipal/Mundo2758753.aspx
http://www.confidencial.com.ni/articulo/4041/millones-de-dolares-sin-control-y-a-discrecion
http://www.confidencial.com.ni/articulo/4040/la-ldquo-injerencia-rdquo-de-venezuela-en-2006
http://www.confidencial.com.ni/articulo/4047/rodrigo-barreto-enviado-de-ldquo-vacaciones-rdquo
http://www.nacion.com/2011-05-16/Mundo/NotasSecundarias/Mundo2757239.aspx
http://www.nacion.com/2011-05-16/Mundo/NotaPrincipal/Mundo2746658.aspx
http://www.nacion.com/2011-05-16/Mundo/Relacionados/Mundo2757244.aspx
http://www.nacion.com/2011-05-16/Mundo/Relacionados/Mundo2746673.aspx
http://www.confidencial.com.ni/articulo/3991/dra-yadira-centeno-desmiente-cable-diplomatico-eeuu
http://www.confidencial.com.ni/articulo/3968/pellas-pronostico-a-eeuu-victoria-de-ortega-en-2006
http://www.confidencial.com.ni/articulo/3967/barreto-era-ldquo-fuente-confiable-rdquo-para-eeuu

`

    VZCZCXRO9688
    PP RUEHLMC
    DE RUEHMU #1505/01 3531417
    ZNY CCCCC ZZH
    P 181417Z DEC 08
    FM AMEMBASSY MANAGUA
    TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 3534
    INFO RUEHZA/WHA CENTRAL AMERICAN COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
    RHEHNSC/NSC WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
    RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC PRIORITY
    RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
    RUMIAAA/CDR USSOUTHCOM MIAMI FL PRIORITY
    RUEHLMC/MILLENNIUM CHALLENGE CORP WASHDC PRIORITY

` `

    C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 MANAGUA 001505

    STATE FOR WHA/CEN, NSC FOR FISK AND GARCIA, STATE PASS USOAS
    SIPDIS

    E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/17/2018
    TAGS: PGOV PHUM KDEM NU
    SUBJECT: NATIONAL ASSEMBLY ADJOURNS AFTER ELECTION FRAUD
    LEADS TO POLITICAL IMPASSE

    REF: MANAGUA 1240

    Classified By: Ambassador Robert J. Callahan, for reasons 1.4(b) and (d
    )

    ¶1.  (C) Summary:  In the wake of the fraudulent November 9
    municipal elections, the National Assembly concluded its
    legislative year on December 15 at an impasse as both the
    governing Sandinista National Liberation Front (FSLN) and the
    united opposition parties were unable to gather a quorum to
    promote their competing political agendas.  Through
    parliamentary maneuvers, the opposition had placed
    legislation on the Assembly's agenda to annul the recent
    municipal elections, but lacked the required votes to move
    the legislation to committee and ultimately to a floor vote.
    The FSLN, likewise, on two separate occasions failed to
    garner sufficient votes for a quorum to allow for the removal
    of the legislation from the agenda, which would be an
    indirect endorsement of the election results.  While not a
    complete victory for the opposition, this stalemate has
    thrown a wrench into the FSLN's plans to simply endorse the
    election results and move ahead with the President's
    legislative agenda, including constitutional reform.  The
    legislative deadlock also affected other pending economic
    legislation ranging from the approval of the 2009 national
    budget to votes accepting the terms of several international
    assistance loans.  The inability of the opposition to convene
    a quorum also hints at strains on the internal power dynamics
    of the main opposition party.  While the Assembly did
    eventually conclude its annual session on December 15,
    negotiations to find a resolution to the political impasse
    surely will continue into the legislative recess.  End
    Summary.

    -------------------------------------------
    The Legislation That Paralyzed the Assembly
    -------------------------------------------

    ¶2.  (C) On November 16, deputies from the Liberal
    Constitutional Party (PLC) and the Nicaraguan Democratic Bloc
    (BDN, those aligned with Eduardo Montealegre's political
    movement Vamos con Eduardo) introduced legislation in the
    National Assembly to annul the results of the November 9
    municipal elections.  The draft law also called for new
    elections 45 days after the legislation became law and
    required the Supreme Electoral Council (CSE) to accredit
    observers for the new elections.  The draft law raised many
    questions about separation of powers.  The CSE is an
    independent branch of government, and the FSLN-dominated
    Supreme Court already had indicated it would find such a
    legislative action unconstitutional.  For this reason many
    Nicaraguans doubted the legislation would ever take effect.
    However, as Deputy Javier Vallejos (BDN) (a key opposition
    official on the Assembly's executive committee) told PolOff,
    the objective was to raise an obstacle to the FSLN's attempt
    to legitimize the municipal elections.  The opposition's
    difficulty, however, was its inability to find enough
    deputies to support the legislation.

    ¶3.  (C) Both the opposition parties and the governing FSLN
    sought to demonstrate their dominance of the Assembly by
    competing to be the first to gather the necessary 47 deputies
    for a quorum to support their respective positions.  For the
    opposition this meant moving the election nullification
    legislation to committee and ultimately to a floor vote.  For
    the FSLN this meant convening a quorum that would act on a
    pre-set legislative agenda that did not include the draft law
    and thereby implicitly endorsed the election results.  On
    December 4 the opposition parties tried to convene a quorum
    and refer the legislation to committee, but were only able to
    gather 44 deputies.  These included deputies from the
    following parties: 25 from the PLC, 15 from the BDN, three
    from the Sandinista Renovation Movement (MRS), and one
    independent.  On December 9, the FSLN tried to convene a
    quorum to push through its agenda, but only gathered 45
    deputies, which included: 38 from the FSLN, five from the
    Nicaraguan Liberal Alliance (ALN), and two independents.  On
    December 15, the FSLN tried a second time to convene a
    quorum, but to the surprise of nearly all observers, it
    failed.  It fared worse than the week before as it gathered
    only 41 deputies, losing ALN deputies that had been present
    during the FSLN's December 9 effort.

    -----------------------
    What the Deadlock Means

    MANAGUA 00001505  002 OF 003

    -----------------------

    ¶4.  (C) The legislation to annul the elections paralyzed the
    Assembly.  With neither the opposition nor the governing FSLN
    able to gather the required 47 deputies to convene a quorum,
    other matters pending before the National Assembly also
    stalled.  This included the approval of the 2009 national
    budget, the approval of a series of international development
    loans for Nicaragua, the confirmation of central bank
    appointees, and the extension of voter identification cards
    that expire December 31, 2008, but that are needed by voters
    in the Atlantic coast for local elections that are scheduled
    for January 18, 2009.

    ¶5.  (C) The legislative deadlock also signifies that the FSLN
    will need to pursue constitutional reform on a different
    timeline.  Prior to the November municipal elections,
    deputies from all parties understood that the FSLN would
    attempt to pass constitutional reform once before the end of
    2008 (reftel).  (Constitutional amendments must be passed in
    two consecutive legislative sessions.)  Given the widespread
    anger with the fraudulent municipal elections, the FSLN found
    itself in a difficult position to find the necessary 56 votes
    to pass any constitutional reform this year.  The FSLN has
    publicly stated its intention to seek the reforms during the
    2009-2010 legislative period (which is composed of two
    sessions).  In a press interview, Supreme Court Magistrate
    and confident to President Ortega Rafael Solis stated that
    there was still time to pass the constitutional reforms prior
    to the 2011 national elections.  (A key element to the
    constitutional reform is the provision permitting consecutive
    re-election of the president, which would allow Ortega to run
    in 2011.)

    ¶6.  (C) While the National Assembly concluded this year's
    session on December 15 and will not reconvene until January
    9, 2009, both the opposition parties and the FSLN will
    continue to seek the coveted 47th deputy.  Deputy Agustin
    Jarquin, of the Christian Democratic Union that is aligned
    with the FSLN in the Assembly, told us that parliamentary
    rules allowed for the legislature to convene a special
    session during a recess.  Aside from furthering their current
    political agendas, both sides will seek 47 votes to support
    their candidates for the new executive committee (Junta
    Directiva) of the Assembly that must be elected upon the
    legislature's return on January 9, 2009.  As usual, the
    executive committee will be instrumental in setting the
    legislative agenda.

    ¶7.  (C)  The paralysis of the Assembly and the unresolved
    election fraud have Nicaraguans guessing what role Arnoldo
    Aleman, the informal leader of the PLC, will play in
    resolving the current political crisis.  During past
    political deadlocks, Aleman has negotiated directly with
    Ortega to reach a compromise.  However, several contacts
    close to Aleman have asserted that Aleman is feeling
    pressured from various fronts but has refused to deal
    directly with Ortega thus far.  Given the massive election
    fraud, Aleman might fear a public backlash if he were to
    negotiate with the FSLN.  On the other hand, Aleman might
    also fear that fully supporting the opposition's challenge of
    the municipal elections would strengthen the
    increasingly-held perception of Eduardo Montealegre as the
    leader of the opposition and further marginalize Aleman from
    the political scene.

    -------
    Comment
    -------

    ¶8.  (C) While legislation to annul the fraudulent municipal
    elections was seen as a long shot, it served as a message by
    a unified opposition to the FSLN that at least one state
    institution was willing to challenge the government.  It also
    has been promising to see the opposition parties working
    together - the PLC, the BDN, and the MRS.  The opposition's
    collaboration thus far has fallen short of garnering the
    necessary votes to move the legislation forward, but perhaps
    more importantly has thwarted the FSLN's legislative agenda
    and timeline on constitutional reform.  We note that the
    legislative deadlock also has prevented the Assembly's
    approval of the GON's 2009 budget.  For the moment this has
    worked in favor of the opposition by increasing the pressure
    on Ortega with respect to international assistance
    disbursements, including from the IMF and the World Bank.

    MANAGUA 00001505  003 OF 003

    However, if it persists, the lack of an approved budget could
    very quickly be turned to a liability for the opposition if
    the GON-controlled media successfully place the blame for
    mounting donor assistance cuts on the opposition.

    ¶9.  (C) This political impasse also hints at the strains
    within the PLC's internal party dynamics.  With the
    opposition unable to garner a simple majority of 47 deputies
    to support its legislation, members from various parties have
    questioned Aleman's position as the leader of the opposition.
     Similarly, questions linger as to the sustainability of
    Montealegre's efforts as the leader of the unified opposition.
    CALLAHAN

`