Keep Us Strong WikiLeaks logo

Currently released so far... 97115 / 251,287

Articles

Browse latest releases

Browse by creation date

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

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
ETRD EAGR ETTC EAID ECON EFIN ECIN EINV ELAB EAIR ENRG EPET EWWT ECPS EIND EMIN ELTN EC ETMIN EUC EZ ET ELECTIONS ENVR EU EUN EG EINT ER ECONOMICS ES EMS ENIV EEB EN ECE ECOSOC EK ENVIRONMENT EFIS EI EWT ENGRD ECPSN EXIM EIAD ERIN ECPC EDEV ENGY ECTRD EPA ESTH ECCT EINVECON ENGR ERTD EUR EAP EWWC ELTD EL EXIMOPIC EXTERNAL ETRDEC ESCAP ECO EGAD ELNT ECONOMIC ENV ETRN EIAR EUMEM ENRGPARMOTRASENVKGHGPGOVECONTSPLEAID EREL ECOM ECONETRDEAGRJA ETCC ETRG ECONOMY EMED ETR ENERG EITC EFINOECD EURM EENG ERA EXPORT ENRD ECONEINVETRDEFINELABETRDKTDBPGOVOPIC EGEN EBRD EVIN ETRAD ECOWAS EFTA ECONETRDBESPAR EGOVSY EPIN EID ECONENRG EDRC ESENV ETT EB ENER ELTNSNAR ECHEVARRIA ETRC EPIT EDUC ESA EFI ENRGY ESCI EE EAIDXMXAXBXFFR EETC ECIP EIAID EIVN EBEXP ESTN EING EGOV ETRA EPETEIND ELAN ETRDGK EAIDRW ETRDEINVECINPGOVCS EPEC ENVI ELN EAG EPCS EPRT EPTED ETRB EUM EAIDS EFIC EFINECONEAIDUNGAGM EAIDAR ESF EIDN ELAM EDU EV EAIDAF ECN EDA EXBS EINTECPS ENRGTRGYETRDBEXPBTIOSZ EPREL EAC EINVEFIN ETA EAGER EINDIR ECA ECLAC ELAP EITI EUCOM ECONEFINETRDPGOVEAGRPTERKTFNKCRMEAID EARG ELDIN EINVKSCA ENNP EFINECONCS EFINTS ECCP ETC EAIRASECCASCID EINN ETRP EAIDNI EFQ ECOQKPKO EGPHUM EBUD ECONEINVEFINPGOVIZ ENERGY ELB EINDETRD EMI ECONEFIN EIB EURN ETRDEINVTINTCS EIN EFIM ETIO ELAINE EMN EATO EWTR EIPR EINVETC ETTD ETDR EIQ ECONCS EPPD ENRGIZ EISL ESPINOSA ELEC EAIG ESLCO EUREM ENTG ERD EINVECONSENVCSJA EEPET EUNCH ECINECONCS ETRO ETRDECONWTOCS ECUN EFND EPECO EAIRECONRP ERGR ETRDPGOV ECPN ENRGMO EPWR EET EAIS EAGRE EDUARDO EAGRRP EAIDPHUMPRELUG EICN ECONQH EVN EGHG ELBR EINF EAIDHO EENV ETEX ERNG ED
KMDR KPAO KPKO KJUS KCRM KGHG KFRD KWMN KDEM KTFN KHIV KGIC KIDE KSCA KNNP KHUM KIPR KSUM KISL KIRF KCOR KRCM KPAL KWBG KN KS KOMC KSEP KFLU KPWR KTIA KSEO KMPI KHLS KICC KSTH KMCA KVPR KPRM KE KU KZ KFLO KSAF KTIP KTEX KBCT KOCI KOLY KOR KAWC KACT KUNR KTDB KSTC KLIG KSKN KNN KCFE KCIP KGHA KHDP KPOW KUNC KDRL KV KPREL KCRS KPOL KRVC KRIM KGIT KWIR KT KIRC KOMO KRFD KUWAIT KG KFIN KSCI KTFIN KFTN KGOV KPRV KSAC KGIV KCRIM KPIR KSOC KBIO KW KGLB KMWN KPO KFSC KSEAO KSTCPL KSI KPRP KREC KFPC KUNH KCSA KMRS KNDP KR KICCPUR KPPAO KCSY KTBT KCIS KNEP KFRDCVISCMGTCASCKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KNNB KGCC KINR KPOP KMFO KENV KNAR KVIR KDRG KDMR KFCE KNAO KDEN KGCN KICA KIMMITT KMCC KLFU KMSG KSEC KUM KCUL KMNP KSMT KCOM KOMCSG KSPR KPMI KRAD KIND KCRP KAUST KWAWC KTER KCHG KRDP KPAS KITA KTSC KPAOPREL KWGB KIRP KJUST KMIG KLAB KTFR KSEI KSTT KAPO KSTS KLSO KWNN KPOA KHSA KNPP KPAONZ KBTS KWWW KY KJRE KPAOKMDRKE KCRCM KSCS KWMNCI KESO KWUN KPLS KIIP KEDEM KPAOY KRIF KGICKS KREF KTRD KFRDSOCIRO KTAO KJU KWMNPHUMPRELKPAOZW KEN KO KNEI KEMR KKIV KEAI KWAC KRCIM KWCI KFIU KWIC KCORR KOMS KNNO KPAI KBWG KTTB KTBD KTIALG KILS KFEM KTDM KESS KNUC KPA KOMCCO KCEM KRCS KWBGSY KNPPIS KNNPMNUC KWN KERG KLTN KALM KCCP KSUMPHUM KREL KGH KLIP KTLA KAWK KWMM KVRP KVRC KAID KSLG KDEMK KX KIF KNPR KCFC KFTFN KTFM KPDD KCERS KMOC KDEMAF KMEPI KEMS KDRM KEPREL KBTR KEDU KNP KIRL KNNR KMPT KISLPINR KTPN KA KJUSTH KPIN KDEV KTDD KAKA KFRP KWNM KTSD KINL KJUSKUNR KWWMN KECF KWBC KPRO KVBL KOM KFRDKIRFCVISCMGTKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KEDM KFLD KLPM KRGY KNNF KICR KIFR KM KWMNCS KAWS KLAP KPAK KDDG KCGC KID KNSD KMPF KPFO KDP KCMR KRMS KNPT KNNNP KTIAPARM KDTB KNUP KPGOV KNAP KNNC KUK KSRE KREISLER KIVP KQ KTIAEUN KPALAOIS KRM KISLAO KWM KFLOA
PHUM PINR PTER PGOV PREL PREF PL PM PHSA PE PARM PINS PK PUNE PO PALESTINIAN PU PBTS PROP PTBS POL POLI PA PGOVZI POLMIL POLITICAL PARTIES POLM PD POLITICS POLICY PAS PMIL PINT PNAT PV PKO PPOL PERSONS PING PBIO PH PETR PARMS PRES PCON PETERS PRELBR PT PLAB PP PAK PDEM PKPA PSOCI PF PLO PTERM PJUS PSOE PELOSI PROPERTY PGOVPREL PARP PRL PNIR PHUMKPAL PG PREZ PGIC PBOV PAO PKK PROV PHSAK PHUMPREL PROTECTION PGOVBL PSI PRELPK PGOVENRG PUM PRELKPKO PATTY PSOC PRIVATIZATION PRELSP PGOVEAIDUKNOSWGMHUCANLLHFRSPITNZ PMIG PREC PAIGH PROG PSHA PARK PETER POG PHUS PPREL PS PTERPREL PRELPGOV POV PKPO PGOVECON POUS PGOVPRELPHUMPREFSMIGELABEAIDKCRMKWMN PWBG PMAR PREM PAR PNR PRELPGOVEAIDECONEINVBEXPSCULOIIPBTIO PARMIR PGOVGM PHUH PARTM PN PRE PTE PY POLUN PPEL PDOV PGOVSOCI PIRF PGOVPM PBST PRELEVU PGOR PBTSRU PRM PRELKPAOIZ PGVO PERL PGOC PAGR PMIN PHUMR PVIP PPD PGV PRAM PINL PKPAL PTERE PGOF PINO PHAS PODC PRHUM PHUMA PREO PPA PEPFAR PGO PRGOV PAC PRESL PORG PKFK PEPR PRELP PREFA PNG PGOVPHUMKPAO PRELECON PINOCHET PFOR PGOVLO PHUMBA PRELC PREK PHUME PHJM POLINT PGOVPZ PGOVKCRM PGOVE PHALANAGE PARTY PECON PEACE PROCESS PLN PRELSW PAHO PEDRO PRELA PASS PPAO PGPV PNUM PCUL PGGV PSA PGOVSMIGKCRMKWMNPHUMCVISKFRDCA PGIV PRFE POGOV PEL PBT PAMQ PINF PSEPC POSTS PHUMPGOV PVOV PHSAPREL PROLIFERATION PENA PRELTBIOBA PIN PRELL PGOVPTER PHAM PHYTRP PTEL PTERPGOV PHARM PROTESTS PRELAF PKBL PRELKPAO PKNP PARMP PHUML PFOV PERM PUOS PRELGOV PHUMPTER PARAGRAPH PERURENA PBTSEWWT PCI PETROL PINSO PINSCE PQL PEREZ PBS

Browse by classification

Community resources

courage is contagious

Viewing cable 06PANAMA540, PANAMA: INTERNAL RULING-PARTY DYNAMICS AS JOSTLING

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. #06PANAMA540.
Reference ID Created Released Classification Origin
06PANAMA540 2006-03-24 19:20 2011-05-29 00:00 UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY Embassy Panama
VZCZCXYZ0000
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHZP #0540/01 0831920
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 241920Z MAR 06
FM AMEMBASSY PANAMA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 7681
INFO RUEHZA/WHA CENTRAL AMERICAN COLLECTIVE
RUEHBO/AMEMBASSY BOGOTA 2226
RUEHCV/AMEMBASSY CARACAS 0979
RUEHPE/AMEMBASSY LIMA 0614
RUEHQT/AMEMBASSY QUITO 0852
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC
RHMFISS/JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC
RUEKJCS/OSD WASHDC
RHMFISS/CDR USSOUTHCOM MIAMI FL//J5/J2/POLAD//
UNCLAS PANAMA 000540 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPARTMENT FOR WHA/CEN 
SOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV PREL PINR PM
SUBJECT: PANAMA: INTERNAL RULING-PARTY DYNAMICS AS JOSTLING 
FOR 2009 ELECTIONS BEGINS -- PART III: THE VEEPS 
 
REF: A. PANAMA 0502 
     B. PANAMA 0525 
 
1.  (U) "The Veeps" is Part III in a three-part series on 
Democratic Revolutionary Party (PRD) inner dynamics. 
Part I: The Front Runners (reftel A). 
Part II: The Unwanted One (reftel B). 
 
SUMMARY 
------- 
2.  (SBU) The PRD's vice presidential candidate in 2009 is 
likely to be Balbina Herrera or Hector Aleman, both of them 
cabinet members, founding members of the Democratic 
Revolutionary party (PRD), locally-educated, self-made but 
experienced politicians with populist, anti-USG backgrounds. 
Herrera (Minister of Housing) and Aleman (Minister of 
Government and Justice) are discretely but aggressively 
positioning themselves for winning an invitation from the 
PRD's presidential candidate invitation to join him on the 
ticket.  A former three-term legislator, Balbina Herrera (52) 
is a former anti-U.S. firebrand who was directly involved in 
the riot that spoiled President George Bush's visit to Panama 
in 1992.  These days, Herrera is a "moderate," admits past 
mistakes and says she has "grown up" politically.  Hector 
Aleman (48) was a public employee union activist who led 
anti-U.S. demonstrations under the military regime.  Both 
Herrera and Aleman are good Embassy contacts.  End summary. 
 
The Minister of Housing 
----------------------- 
3.  (SBU) In addition to being Minister of Housing, Balbina 
Herrera is the PRD's deputy secretary general (number-two in 
the party to President Torrijos).  A legislator for fifteen 
years (since 1990), Herrera became Panama,s first female 
National Assembly president in 1995.  Herrera held the 
largely ceremonial PRD presidency during 1999-2002.  Well 
known for her fiery rhetoric and combative style (and for her 
former anti-U.S. activism), Herrera decided not to run for 
re-election to the National Assembly in 2004 and diligently 
supported President Torrijos's successful campaign.  A PRD 
member since 1978 and once closely associated with Manuel 
Noriega, Herrera held numerous PRD leadership positions 
before serving in the legislature, as mayor of San Miguelito 
(1984-89) and president of the Mayors' Association (1985-88). 
 
Most Popular 
------------ 
4.  (SBU) Local polls show Herrera as Panama,s most popular 
cabinet member.  (Comment: We have watched people stop, call 
her name, even scream when they see her in the street.  End 
comment.)  Since taking office as housing minister in 
September 2004, Herrera has fully dedicated herself to 
housing poor Panamanians.  PRD legislators have confided to 
Emboff that Herrera discretely meets regularly with three 
other traditional and influential PRDers to analyze current 
situations and evaluate President Torrijos's performance. 
 
Charisma and Clout 
------------------ 
5.  (SBU) Herrera's vice presidential aspirations are widely 
known. Herrera has expanded her traditional base of 
supporters in San Miguelito, an impoverished over-crowded 
district within Panama City, through her work on national 
housing projects and through internal work as a PRD leader. 
Likewise, Herrera appears in the media constantly as a 
charismatic politician with strong convictions.  During the 
2004 campaign Herrera's was the principal voice on radio and 
TV shows defending the PRD and Torrijos from opposition 
attacks.  Many believe that Herrera will use all of her 
influence and political clout to persuade the PRD 
presidential candidate to nominate her as his vice president. 
 If Torrijos maintains control of the PRD after the 2007 
internal elections, Herrera will need Torrijos's blessing for 
her aspirations.  One major obstacle could be her rocky 
relationship with the First Lady Vivian Torrijos, who is 
known to strongly influence her husband. 
 
The Minister of Government and Justice 
 
-------------------------------------- 
6.  (SBU) Hector Aleman is an up-and-coming politician who 
emphasizes the importance of continuing democratization 
within his party and the country as a whole.  Like Balbina 
Herrera, Aleman's aspirations to become a vice presidential 
candidate under the PRD ticket are no secret.  Although 
he is an elected official (legislator), Aleman's poker-face 
air and lack of charisma may not make him an appealing 
national candidate, especially among younger voters, who make 
up the majority of the electorate.  There are rumors that 
Aleman may eventually replace VP/Foreign Minister Lewis.  The 
rumors are somewhat odd, considering Aleman's lack of 
international experience.  Also, Aleman does not speak 
English.  If he did become foreign minister, travel demands 
might prevent him from internal campaigning. 
 
Up-And-Coming Politico 
---------------------- 
7.  (SBU) Aleman has served as Minister of Government and 
Justice since September 1, 2004.  In addition to his cabinet 
post, Aleman is the PRD's Second Deputy Secretary General and 
served as Torrijos campaign coordinator for the May 2004 
presidential race.  He was a driving force behind the 
National Assembly's approval of the PRD-sponsored 
constitutional reform package passed in 2004 and ratified in 
2005.  Although re-elected as legislator representing a 
district in Panama City, Aleman is on leave while he serves 
as minister and rumors are that he will not return to the 
Assembly unless he loses his cabinet post. 
 
Good Contacts With Embassy, China 
--------------------------------- 
8.  (SBU) A member of Martin Torrijos's &new8 PRD, Aleman 
has worked closely with Embassy officials since taking office 
but in the past he was known for taking anti-American 
positions.  On the other hand, in FY 2002 and again in FY 
2003, Aleman declined to participate in several International 
Visitor (IV) programs, alleging National Assembly and Party 
obligations.  As  Minister of Government and Justice, Aleman 
has cooperated with the Embassy.  Aleman supports 
establishing full diplomatic relations with the People's 
Republic of China (PRC) and withdrawing the GOP's recognition 
of Taiwan.  Aleman has visited the PRC, has close ties to the 
PRC's local Commercial Development Office and even boycotted 
the visit of Taiwan President Chen Shui-bian to the National 
Assembly a few years ago when the PRD controlled it during 
the Moscoso administration. 
Dubious Reputation As A Political "Fixer" 
----------------------------------------- 
9.  (SBU) President Torrijos has relied on Aleman for 
political damage control for social security reforms and for 
his help in charting a political strategy to guide the 
conclusion of an FTA with the United States.  Many PRDers 
blame Aleman for the GOP's mishandling of the social security 
reform bill in 2005 and the subsequent five-week street 
demonstrations and strike by construction workers, public 
physicians, nurses and public teachers. 
 
Comment 
------- 
10.  (SBU) Herrera is probably better placed within the party 
than Aleman for the vice presidential nomination.  She is 
charismatic; he is not.  She is charming; he is not.  She is 
more at ease with the media than Aleman.  Most important, 
PRDers are not blaming her for the government's political 
mistakes.  Potential presidential candidate (Panama City 
mayor) Juan Carlos Navarro would not hesitate to name Herrera 
his vice president.  On the other hand, Aleman is closer to 
potential candidate (VP/Foreign Minister) Samuel Lewis.  At 
the moment, Lewis looks like a better bet for the nomination 
than Navarro, mainly because he is closer Torrijos.  So, in 
the end, Aleman may have better chances than Herrera to get 
President Torrijos, blessing to become the PRD's vice 
presidential candidate. 
 
EATON