

Currently released so far... 12553 / 251,287
Browse latest releases
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
Browse by creation date
Browse by origin
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 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 Helsinki
Embassy Harare
Embassy Hanoi
Consulate Ho Chi Minh City
Consulate Hermosillo
Consulate Hamilton
Consulate Hamburg
Consulate Halifax
Embassy Kyiv
Embassy Kuwait
Embassy Kuala Lumpur
Embassy Kinshasa
Embassy Kingston
Embassy Kigali
Embassy Khartoum
Embassy Kathmandu
Embassy Kampala
Embassy Kabul
Consulate Kolkata
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
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 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
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
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
Browse by tag
APECO
ASEC
AMGT
AFIN
APER
ACABQ
AORC
AEMR
AF
AE
AR
AGMT
AU
AY
ABLD
AS
AG
AJ
APCS
AX
AM
AMEX
ATRN
ADM
AMED
AFGHANISTAN
AZ
AL
ASUP
AND
ARM
ASEAN
AFFAIRS
AQ
ATFN
AMBASSADOR
AODE
APEC
ACBAQ
AFSI
AFSN
AO
ABUD
AC
ADPM
ADCO
ASIG
ARF
AUC
ASEX
AGAO
AA
AER
AVERY
AGRICULTURE
AIT
AADP
ASCH
AORL
AROC
ACOA
ANET
AID
AMCHAMS
AINF
AMG
AFU
AN
ALOW
ASECKFRDCVISKIRFPHUMSMIGEG
ACS
ADANA
AECL
ACAO
AORG
AGR
BEXP
BR
BM
BG
BL
BA
BTIO
BO
BP
BC
BILAT
BK
BU
BD
BRUSSELS
BB
BF
BBSR
BIDEN
BX
BE
BH
BT
BY
BMGT
BWC
BTIU
BN
CA
CASC
CFED
CO
CH
CS
CU
CE
CI
CM
CMGT
CJAN
COM
CG
CIS
CVIS
CR
CKGR
CHR
CVR
COUNTER
CIA
CLINTON
CY
CPAS
CD
CBW
COUNTERTERRORISM
CITEL
CDG
CW
CODEL
COUNTRY
CLEARANCE
COE
CN
CARICOM
CB
CONDOLEEZZA
CWC
CACS
CSW
CIDA
CIC
CITT
CONS
CL
CACM
CDB
CDC
CAN
CF
CJUS
CTM
CBSA
CARSON
CT
CLMT
CBC
CEUDA
CV
COPUOS
CTR
CROS
CAPC
CAC
CNARC
CICTE
CBE
ECON
ETRD
EIND
ENRG
EC
ELAB
EAGR
EAID
EFIS
EFIN
EINV
EUN
EG
EPET
EAIR
EU
ELTN
EWWT
ECIN
ERD
EI
ETTC
EUR
EN
EZ
ETC
ENVI
EMIN
ET
ENVR
ER
ECPS
EINT
EAP
ES
ENIV
ECONOMY
EXTERNAL
EINN
EFTA
ECONOMIC
EPA
EXBS
ECA
ELN
ETRDEINVECINPGOVCS
ENGR
ECUN
ENGY
ECONOMICS
ELECTIONS
EIAR
EINDETRD
EREL
EUC
ECONEFIN
EURN
EDU
ETRDEINVTINTCS
ECIP
ENERG
EFIM
EAIDS
EK
ETRDECONWTOCS
EINVETC
ECONCS
EUNCH
ESA
ECINECONCS
EUREM
ESENV
EFINECONCS
ETRC
ENNP
EAIG
EXIM
EEPET
EINVECONSENVCSJA
EUMEM
ETRA
ERNG
ETRO
ETRN
EINVEFIN
ICTY
IN
IS
IR
IC
IZ
IA
INTERPOL
IAEA
IT
IMO
IO
IV
ID
IRAQI
IEA
INRB
IL
IWC
ITU
ICAO
ISRAELI
ICRC
IIP
IMF
IBRD
ISLAMISTS
ITALY
ITALIAN
ILO
IPR
IQ
IRS
IAHRC
IZPREL
IRAJ
IDP
ILC
ITF
ICJ
IF
ITPHUM
INMARSAT
ISRAEL
IACI
IBET
ITRA
INR
IRC
IDA
ICTR
IGAD
INRA
INRO
IEFIN
INTELSAT
INTERNAL
INDO
ITPGOV
KWMN
KSCA
KDEM
KTFN
KIPR
KCRM
KPAL
KE
KPAO
KPKO
KS
KN
KISL
KFRD
KJUS
KIRF
KFLO
KG
KTIP
KTER
KRCM
KTIA
KGHG
KIRC
KU
KPRP
KMCA
KMPI
KSEO
KNNP
KZ
KNEI
KCOR
KOMC
KCFC
KSTC
KMDR
KFLU
KSAF
KSEP
KSAC
KR
KGIC
KSUM
KWBG
KCIP
KDRG
KOLY
KAWC
KCHG
KHDP
KRVC
KBIO
KAWK
KGCC
KHLS
KBCT
KPLS
KREL
KCFE
KMFO
KV
KFRDKIRFCVISCMGTKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG
KFTFN
KVPR
KTDB
KSPR
KIDE
KVRP
KTEX
KBTR
KTRD
KICC
KCOM
KO
KLIG
KDEMAF
KMRS
KRAD
KOCI
KSTH
KUNR
KNSD
KGIT
KFSC
KHIV
KPAI
KICA
KACT
KHUM
KREC
KSEC
KFRDCVISCMGTCASCKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG
KCMR
KPIN
KESS
KDEV
KNAR
KNUC
KPWR
KENV
KWWMN
KWMNCS
KPRV
KOM
KBTS
KCRS
KNPP
KWNM
KRFD
KVIR
KTBT
KAID
KRIM
KDDG
KRGY
KHSA
KWMM
KMOC
KSCI
KPAK
KX
KPAONZ
KCGC
KID
KPOA
KIFR
KFIN
KWAC
KOMS
KCRCM
KNUP
KMIG
KNNPMNUC
KERG
KTLA
KCSY
KJUST
MOPS
MARR
MASS
MNUC
MX
MCAP
MO
MR
MI
MD
MK
MA
MP
MY
MTCRE
MOPPS
MASC
MIL
MTS
MLS
MILI
MAR
MU
MEPN
MAPP
MTCR
MEPI
MZ
MEETINGS
MG
MW
MAS
MT
MCC
MIK
ML
MARAD
MV
MERCOSUR
MTRE
MPOS
MEPP
MILITARY
MDC
MQADHAFI
MUCN
MRCRE
MAPS
MEDIA
MASSMNUC
MC
NZ
NZUS
NL
NU
NATO
NP
NO
NIPP
NE
NH
NR
NA
NPT
NI
NSF
NG
NSG
NAFTA
NC
NDP
NEW
NRR
NATIONAL
NT
NS
NASA
NAR
NV
NORAD
NSSP
NK
NPA
NGO
NSC
NATOPREL
NW
NPG
NSFO
OPDC
OTRA
OIIP
OREP
OVIP
OSCE
OEXC
OIE
OPRC
OAS
OPIC
OTR
OMIG
OSAC
OFFICIALS
OECD
OSCI
OBSP
OFDA
OPCW
ODIP
OFDP
OES
OPAD
OCII
OHUM
OVP
ON
OIC
OCS
PHUM
PREL
PGOV
PINR
PTER
PARM
PREF
PM
PE
PINS
PK
PHSA
PBTS
PRGOV
PA
PORG
PP
PS
PGOF
PL
PO
PARMS
PKFK
PSOE
PEPR
PAK
POL
PPA
PINT
PMAR
PRELP
PREFA
PALESTINIAN
PBIO
PINF
PNG
PMIL
PFOR
PUNE
PGOVLO
PAO
POLITICS
PHUMBA
PSEPC
PTBS
PCUL
PROP
PNAT
PNR
POLINT
PGOVE
PROG
PHALANAGE
PARTY
PDEM
PECON
PROV
PHUMPREL
PGOC
PY
PCI
PLN
PDOV
PREO
PGIV
PHUH
PAS
PU
POGOV
PF
PINL
POV
PAHO
PRL
PG
PRAM
POLITICAL
PARTIES
POLICY
PGOVSMIGKCRMKWMNPHUMCVISKFRDCA
PGGV
PHUS
PSA
PHUMPGOV
PEL
PSI
PAIGH
POSTS
PBT
PTERE
RS
RU
RW
RM
RO
RP
REGION
RSP
RF
RICE
RCMP
RFE
RIGHTS
RIGHTSPOLMIL
ROBERT
RUPREL
RELATIONS
ROOD
REACTION
RSO
REPORT
SENV
SNAR
SCUL
SR
SC
SOCI
SMIG
SI
SP
SU
SO
SW
SY
SA
SZ
SAN
SF
SN
STEINBERG
SG
ST
SIPDIS
SNARIZ
SNARN
SSA
SK
SPCVIS
SOFA
SAARC
SL
SEVN
SARS
SIPRS
SHUM
SANC
SWE
SHI
SYR
SNARCS
SPCE
SYRIA
SEN
SH
SCRS
SENVKGHG
TRGY
TSPL
TPHY
TSPA
TBIO
TI
TW
THPY
TX
TU
TS
TZ
TC
TH
TT
TIP
TO
TERRORISM
TRSY
TINT
TN
TURKEY
TBID
TL
TV
TNGD
TD
TF
TP
TFIN
TAGS
TK
TR
UNSC
UK
UNGA
UN
US
UNHRC
UG
UP
UNMIK
UNHCR
UE
USTR
UNVIE
UAE
UZ
UY
UNO
UNESCO
USEU
USOAS
UV
UNODC
UNCHS
UNFICYP
UNEP
UNIDROIT
UNDESCO
UNDP
UNPUOS
UNC
UNAUS
USUN
UNCHC
UNCHR
UNCND
UNICEF
UNCSD
UNDC
USNC
USPS
USAID
Browse by classification
Community resources
courage is contagious
Viewing cable 10MILAN21, PRE-ELECTION LANDSCAPE: DOMINANT CENTER-RIGHT AND
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.
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. #10MILAN21.
Reference ID | Created | Released | Classification | Origin |
---|---|---|---|---|
10MILAN21 | 2010-02-17 07:15 | 2011-03-05 11:00 | CONFIDENTIAL | Consulate Milan |
VZCZCXRO5411
PP RUEHFL RUEHNP
DE RUEHMIL #0021/01 0480715
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 170715Z FEB 10
FM AMCONSUL MILAN
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1906
INFO RUEHRO/AMEMBASSY ROME PRIORITY 9008
RUEHFL/AMCONSUL FLORENCE PRIORITY 0246
RUEHNP/AMCONSUL NAPLES PRIORITY 0241
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 MILAN 000021
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/15/2020
TAGS: IT PGOV PREL
SUBJECT: PRE-ELECTION LANDSCAPE: DOMINANT CENTER-RIGHT AND
WEAK OPPOSITION IN THE VENETO
Classified By: Consul General Carol Z. Perez for reasons 1.4(b) and (d)
.
¶1. SUMMARY: (SBU) Heading into the March 28-29 regional
elections, the political landscape in the Veneto, one of
Italy's most politically and economically important regions,
displays a dominant center-right coalition headed by a
Northern League (LN) candidate and a weak and disorganized
center-left opposition. The Northern League party is strong
and growing stronger both in relation to the opposition and
within its center-right coalition, due to increasing popular
support for hard-line positions on security and immigration;
the election of LN Agricultural Minister Luca Zaia as the
region's next president is a foregone conclusion. The
outcome of the regional election in the Veneto and elsewhere
could change the balance of power between the LN and Popolo
della Libert (Pdl), Prime Minister Berlusconi's ruling
party. In contrast to the center-right's strong and unified
front, the center-left opposition is in disarray. In
addition to its almost certain loss in the upcoming regional
contest, the center-left Democratic Party (PD) faces the
potential loss of the mayorship of Venice, a position that it
has held for over twenty years.
Northern League: Strong Venetian Roots, and Growing Stronger
¶2. (SBU) With gubernatorial elections coming up on March
28-29, the Northern League (LN) party is in an extremely
strong position in the economically and politically important
Veneto region, both within its center-right coalition and
vis--vis the center-left opposition. The center-right
coalition has chosen an LN candidate, current Agriculture
Minister Luca Zaia, to stand for election next month and
officials from both the center-right and from the
center-left, composed primarily of the Democratic Party (PD),
agree that the LN has outmaneuvered its opponents in the
region, reading the popular mood and appealing to an
ever-broadening segment of the electorate.
¶3. (SBU) Crucial to the LN's regional appeal is its
connection to the territory and its use of a unique,
sometimes crude political rhetoric that appeals to Veneto
voters. Home to the historically powerful and independent
city-state of Venice, the Veneto maintains an identity that
is proud of its achievements, especially in the economic
realm, and is wary of outside interference. Northern League
founder and leader Umberto Bossi has successfully parlayed
the LN's flagship issue, fiscal federalism, into a broader
platform of security and protection from outside threats,
linking the rise in immigration with crime, unemployment, and
a general degradation of Italian cultural identity. This
political formula holds continued appeal for the LN's
traditional electoral base, the small- and medium-sized
business owners who make up the economic fabric of the
Veneto, but this savvy platform fusing fiscal federalism and
immigration has also had growing resonance with workers, a
traditionally leftist bloc, whom LN leaders assert no longer
feel ""protected"" by the PD and other parties. The LN has
made an increasingly convincing argument that unfairly high
taxes imposed by Rome put people out of business and that
immigrant workers take Italian jobs. Recently this second
claim has been especially compelling, given the ever higher
number of immigrants arriving in the Veneto and the global
economic crisis, which has led to many job losses in the
Veneto.
¶4. (SBU) LN rhetoric about immigration ranges from slightly
protectionist to overtly xenophobic, and the LN has
successfully linked immigrants to crime in the minds of an
increasingly large swath of voters. LN policies at the local
levels often focus on expelling illegal immigrants and
""cleaning up"" the often run-down neighborhoods in which they
live - measures that citizens often perceive, in practical
terms, as cleaning up the streets, reducing crime, and
generally improving the quality of life. The opposition
refutes the logic behind these measures as well as claims
about their effectiveness, but even they admit that on the
issue of security, the Northern League is king. A PD
official from the city of Treviso noted that economic
insecurity in Italy is the more salient issue, especially in
the recent downturn, but that the LN has seized on physical
security as its issue, which is easier to explain to voters,
and has translated it into political gain.
Party of the People - and the Young
¶5. (SBU) Although many LN leaders would be reluctant to admit
it, the Northern League in the Veneto draws heavily from
Italy,s former communist tradition and has retained that
close, grass-roots connection to the electorate; supporters
across the region refer glowingly to the LN as the only
MILAN 00000021 002 OF 003
""party of the masses"" and ""party of the people"" currently in
the country. The LN has continued to expand its physical
presence with numerous, accessible party offices and outposts
that also double as community centers. LN leaders and voters
alike boast that their mayors and councilmen are always out
and about, talking to people and maintaining a personal
relationship with their constituents - practicing what hugely
popular Verona mayor Flavio Tosi has termed ""supermarket
politics."" The LN,s pervasive reputation for good public
administration seems to stem directly from this
responsiveness, accessibility, and visibility. Furthermore -
largely due to its strong physical presence and proactive
outreach in the region - the Northern League has successfully
courted the youth vote and seems to be making great progress
in cultivating the next generation of LN voters. A Treviso
Pd official said that in 2009 he organized a visit to
Strasbourg for area teens to learn more about the EU
Parliament, the first arranged by the region,s Democratic
Party in 15 years; over the same period, however, the
Northern League has organized multiple similar trips per
year.
Democratic Party Struggling for Coherence, Votes, and Venice
¶6. (SBU) In contrast to the Northern League,s rise, the
center-left in Veneto is struggling to put forward a cohesive
platform and communicate a strong party identity to the
electorate. The party is suffering from a declining share of
the vote, and its loss in March,s race for the regional
presidency is virtually assured. The Pd,s choice for
gubernatorial candidate displays the party,s internal
weakness and identity crisis; Venice city councilman Giuseppe
Bortolussi is far from a typical Democrat, with an
ideologically independent bent and a conservative,
pro-business stance. Bortolussi - who, well before the
announcement of his candidacy, told us that he did not want
to run, but would ""obey"" if his party,s leadership asked him
to - has for over thirty years served as the director of the
region,s largest union of small- and medium-size business
owners. In this capacity he has often led the charge against
higher taxes and central government interference, the LN,s
traditional political territory, and has clashed openly with
center-left governments headed by Pd Prime Ministers Prodi
and D,Alema. The PD,s obvious attempt to challenge the
center-right on its own terrain and appeal to the largest
possible electorate is not likely to succeed.
¶7. (SBU) Another potential blow to the center-left would be
the loss of the mayorship of Venice (which also holds
elections in late March). While not particularly important
politically, the city of Venice still has enormous cultural
and social significance, and it has for over twenty years
been a center-left stronghold. Outgoing PD mayor Massimo
Cacciari has already served three terms in total, and the
center-left candidate, elderly lawyer and former city
councilman Giorgio Orsoni, is in a close race with the
popular Minister of Public Administration Renato Brunetta
(from Silvio Berlusconi's Popolo della Liberta party).
Brunetta's mayoral run could be hurt by his stated desire to
continue serving as a cabinet minister even if elected, but
he remains a very popular figure among Venetians, and the
race is definitely open.
¶8. (SBU) According to PD officials in the region, the
party,s main problem lies in its inability to articulate a
platform and its lack of organization, not in the quality of
its governance. A PD official from Verona highlighted recent
achievements by numerous PD mayors throughout the Veneto, but
admitted that the party has been ineffective in communicating
its successes to the electorate and translating them into
votes. The party has also struggled to explain itself to
voters in the region, a communication failure that has
allowed the LN to take the mantle of ""reform"" from the PD.
Additionally, unlike the LN, the PD has not built a robust
physical presence, further removing it from the electorate
and particularly the next generation of young voters.
Lastly, despite several particularly talented Veneto PD
politicians, the party has not successfully drawn the link to
the territory that the LN has so masterfully done. Regional
PD officials stressed that tying its platform more closely to
the specific Veneto terrain is critical to any future level
of success in the region. The PD failed to inherit the
structure of the Italian Communist Party or the Christian
Democrats - the parties from which it descended - and after a
series of failures on the national and regional level, has
struggled to set new roots down.
Comment: Jockeying for Power within the Ruling Coalition
¶9. (C) Because the center-right,s victory in the regional
race is essentially assured, the real contest in the Veneto
is within the majority coalition, between the Northern League
and Prime Minister Berlusconi,s ruling Popolo della Libert
(Pdl). While they are allies in the coalition, their
relationship at the regional level and below is often tense,
and the two parties display very different positions,
MILAN 00000021 003 OF 003
platforms, and political styles. While the LN has been strong
in the Veneto for some time, this election cycle could be the
first time that it actually overtakes the Pdl in the region;
a recent poll conducted by northern Italian polling firm SWG
predicts the LN will receive 33 percent of the vote, while
the Pdl stands around 27 percent. While polls are imperfect
predictors, the numbers are still striking to those both
within and outside of the majority coalition. Because the
parties in the winning coalition will divvy up positions
based on the percentage of votes they have received, the LN
is pushing to secure as many important regional political
posts as possible. Additionally, the result of the regional
elections in the Veneto and other Italian regions could shift
the balance of power between the LN and Berlusconi,s Pdl at
the national government level. In times of political
weakness or vulnerability Berlusconi has already had to give
concessions to LN government leaders in order to win support
for his personal legislative agenda. With a strong enough
showing in the March elections, and without a solid
opposition to block such measures, the LN could be in an even
more powerful position to influence Italian national policy
and assert its own security-based, anti-immigrant political
ideology.
¶10. (U) This cable has been cleared by Embassy Rome.
Perez
"