Cable Viewer

Currently released so far... 14717 / 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 2011/06/12 2011/06/13

### Browse by creation date

66 72 73 75 79 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 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 1988/12
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
1994/11 1994/12
1995/01 1995/04
1996/07 1996/09 1996/11
1997/02 1997/05 1997/06 1997/10 1997/12
1998/05
1999/09
2000/05 2000/06 2000/09 2000/11
2001/02 2001/03 2001/04 2001/05 2001/06 2001/07 2001/09 2001/10 2001/11 2001/12
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 Guangzhou Consulate Guadalajara
Embassy Helsinki Embassy Harare Embassy Hanoi Consulate Hong Kong 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 AGAO AGRICULTURE ARF 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 BIDEN BE BX BC BP 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 COM CV CARSON COPUOS CAPC CACS CIVS COUNTER CFED 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 EUREM ETRDEINVECINPGOVCS ECOSOC EINVEFIN EDU EFINECONCS 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 FINR FM 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 ILC ICJ IQ ICTY IO IRS 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 JOSEPH JAMES JOHNNIE JOHN JIMENEZ
KNNP KFLO KDEM KOMC 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 KCFE KPWR KIDE KSAF KR KNUP KCSY KFRDCVISCMGTCASCKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KOCI KNUC KMPI KPAONZ KHLS KNAR KPRP KHDP KHIV KTRD KWAC KTAO KJUST KTBT KPRV KHSA KAWK KENV KCRCM KNPP KPOA KBCT KMFO KVRP KO KVIR KX KACT KMRS KBTS KSCI KFSC KNNPMNUC KERG KPIR KCOM KAID KTLA KNDP 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 LO LG LH LAB LT LOG
MARR MX MASS MOPS MNUC MCAP MTCRE MRCRE MTRE MASC MY MK MAS MO MIL ML MTCR MEPP MG MAPP MAR MR MU MZ MD 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 NATOIRAQ NR 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 OIE OFDP OFFICIALS OHUM OVIPPRELUNGANU OSCI 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 PJUS POLITICAL PGOF PAO PMIL PARMS PG PREO PINO PRAM 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 SENVSXE STEINBERG SARS SG SL SAARC SCRS SWE SNARIZ 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 TERRORISM TWI TL TV TO TRSY TURKEY TSPAM TINT TFIN TAGS TR TBID THPY
UNSC UK UNGA UN US UZ USEU UG UP UNAUS UNMIK USTR UR UY UNHRC USPS UNSCR UV UNMIC UNESCO UNCHR USUN UNHCR USGS UNEP USOAS USNC 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 08MADRID537, SPAIN: TURMOIL WITHIN THE PARTIDO POPULAR--CAN

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. #08MADRID537.

Reference ID | Created | Released | Classification | Origin
--- | --- | --- | --- | ---
08MADRID537 | 2008-05-14 08:15 | 2010-12-03 12:30 | CONFIDENTIAL | Embassy Madrid

`

    VZCZCXRO3816
    PP RUEHAG RUEHROV
    DE RUEHMD #0537/01 1350815
    ZNY CCCCC ZZH
    P 140815Z MAY 08
    FM AMEMBASSY MADRID
    TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 4764
    INFO RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE
    RUEHLA/AMCONSUL BARCELONA 3420

` `

    C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 MADRID 000537

    SIPDIS

    DEPARTMENT FOR EUR/WE

    E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/13/2018
    TAGS: PGOV SP
    SUBJECT: SPAIN: TURMOIL WITHIN THE PARTIDO POPULAR--CAN
    RAJOY HOLD ON?

    MADRID 00000537 001.2 OF 002

    Classified By: CDA Hugo Llorens for Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)

    ¶1. (U) Two months after suffering a second straight defeat at
    the hands of President Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero,
    opposition Partido Popular (PP) leader Mariano Rajoy finds
    himself in the midst of a crisis that threatens the future of
    his party leadership. In the days following the March 9
    general election, Rajoy announced that he would remain the PP
    leader--reminding Spanish citizens that Jose Maria Aznar lost
    two elections to Felipe Gonzalez before finally winning in
    1996--and received the public support of nearly every senior
    party official. Rajoy then took steps to soften the party's
    tone and remake it in his own image, in an attempt to dilute
    the influence of Aznar. To that end, he eased out
    Congressional spokesman Eduardo Zaplana and Secretary General
    Angel Acebes and announced he would be taking the party in a
    new direction.

    ¶2. (U) The cracks in PP unity began to show on April 7, when
    Madrid Regional President (U.S. governor equivalent)
    Esperanza Aguirre refused to rule out a challenge to Rajoy at
    the upcoming party conference in June. The potential for a
    challenge to Rajoy's leadership was a major news story in
    Spain for the next several days, with some in the PP even
    discussing the feasibility of conducting a U.S.-style primary
    system to choose the party's next leader. Rajoy and his
    supporters tried to douse any speculation of a leadership
    change, but the crisis has not gone away. More wood was
    added to the fire on May 12 when the popular PP leader in the
    Basque Country, Maria San Gil, announced that she would not
    serve again on the committee drafting the party's political
    program because she no longer had confidence in Rajoy or his
    team. Immediately after this announcement, senior party
    officials including Aguirre, Acebes, Madrid Councilwoman (and
    wife of President Aznar) Ana Botella, and former Aznar
    Interior Minister Jaime Mayor Oreja, expressed their support
    for San Gil's decision and called on Rajoy to reflect on the
    current turmoil within his party. For the first time since
    the March 9 elections, we are now hearing serious speculation
    that Rajoy may not be able to hold on to power.

    ¶3. (C) During the week of May 5 (in the middle of the
    controversy over the future of Rajoy's leadership but before
    the uproar caused by the San Gil announcement), the Charge
    d'Affaires held separate meetings with Gustavo de Aristegui,
    PP Congressional Spokesman for Foreign Affairs, and Jorge
    Moragas, PP Director of International Relations and a key
    Rajoy advisor. Aristegui was very critical of Rajoy's
    actions in the wake of the electoral loss, saying that he
    seemed to be blaming everyone but himself for the results.
    He said Rajoy's actions to force out Zaplana and Acebes and
    bring in a new team were akin to the captain of a ship, not
    only abandoning ship, but leaving his crew in the sinking
    vessel. Aristegui said that Rajoy's lack of loyalty to those
    who had been with him all along was not sitting well with
    other PP leaders. He opined that Rajoy needed to open up the
    June party conference and allow all interested officials to
    present their candidacy for PP leadership. He said that if
    Rajoy was able to defeat challengers in a fair and open
    process, his leadership would no longer be questioned.
    Aristegui said that Rajoy may be able to maintain control
    beyond the June convention, but opposition to his leadership
    would grow if the PP does poorly in the next rounds of
    Spanish regional elections in the Basque Country (currently
    scheduled for April 2009) and Galicia (June 2009). It should
    be noted that Aristegui perhaps feels personally betrayed
    since Rajoy has clearly demoted him in the party's foreign
    policy circles.

    ¶4. (C) As expected, Moragas was more upbeat in his comments
    to the Charge and, while acknowledging that there were
    currently concerns about Rajoy's leadership, predicted that
    the party would eventually fall back in line. He said that
    in the coming weeks Rajoy would attempt to remain above the
    fray and look towards the next four years in opposition by
    issuing position papers on topics such as the economy,
    security, and regional issues. He said that President
    Zapatero and his Socialist government were in for a very
    rocky way ahead with the economy continuing to tank and key
    issues in Catalonia and the Basque Country coming to a head.
    He said it is more vital than ever for the party to remain
    united and seize the moment when Zapatero stumbles. Moragas
    said that he and Rajoy developed a close working relationship
    during the campaign and that he is now one of Rajoy's closest
    advisors. He added however that he was not a "Rajoy guy,"
    but rather a loyal party member who responded when asked to
    serve.

    //COMMENT//

    MADRID 00000537 002.2 OF 002

    ¶5. (C) Rajoy does not posses great charisma, and many were
    surprised when former President Aznar hand-picked him as his
    successor in 2003. Many more were surprised when Rajoy did
    not bow out five years later after a second straight
    electoral loss. We believe Rajoy owes his longevity as much
    as anything to the lack of a credible successor within his
    own party. Would-be challengers such as Esperanza Aguirre,
    Madrid Mayor Alberto Ruiz-Gallardon, or Valencia Regional
    President Francisco Camps all have their own drawbacks, and
    none enjoys the national stature of Rajoy (and both
    Ruiz-Gallardon and Camps appear to still be backing Rajoy).
    However, a groundswell of opposition may be building. Maria
    San Gil's public criticism of Rajoy's leadership was
    certainly noteworthy, but maybe more so is the number of
    senior PP leaders coming out of the woodwork to express
    solidarity with her, and to call on Rajoy to seriously
    respond to the current unease among the party faithful.
    Rajoy may hold onto power for the time being due to the lack
    of a viable alternative, but we agree that further losses in
    Spain's regional elections over the next two years will make
    it difficult for him to remain the PP's national candidate in
    ¶2012. PP leaders have traditionally been members of Congress
    due to the visibility afforded and the need for the
    opposition leader to be able to confront the sitting
    president directly in weekly debates, but some credible
    voices are mentioning the name of former IMF director and
    past Spanish Vice President Rodrigo Rato (now in the private
    sector) as a possible candidate to lead the party into the
    future.
    Llorens

`