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 08SANTIAGO581, CONCERTACION DECISION TO RUN TWO LISTS FOR UPCOMING

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. #08SANTIAGO581.
Reference ID Created Released Classification Origin
08SANTIAGO581 2008-06-19 19:40 2011-08-25 00:00 UNCLASSIFIED Embassy Santiago
P 191940Z JUN 08
FM AMEMBASSY SANTIAGO
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 3410
INFO AMEMBASSY BUENOS AIRES 
AMEMBASSY LIMA 
AMEMBASSY LA PAZ 
AMEMBASSY BRASILIA 
AMEMBASSY MONTEVIDEO 
AMEMBASSY ASUNCION 
CIA WASHDC
HQ USSOUTHCOM MIAMI FL
SECDEF WASHDC
UNCLAS SANTIAGO 000581 
 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV CI
SUBJECT: CONCERTACION DECISION TO RUN TWO LISTS FOR UPCOMING 
MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS CALLED "PANDORA'S BOX" 
 
REF: Santiago 480 
 
1.  Summary: Concertacion coalition parties announced on June 5 that 
they will run two lists of candidates in October's municipal 
elections, the first time since winning power in 1990 that the 
Concertacion is running a split ticket.  The two larger parties - 
Socialists and Christian Democrats - will run on one ticket and the 
two smaller parties -- the Party for Democracy and Social Radicals 
-- on another.  President Bachelet and other senior GOC officials 
tried to mediate with party leaders to ensure a unity ticket, but 
failed.  The center-right Alianza opposition is salivating at the 
chance to exploit a divided Concertacion and increase their gains in 
the elections.  Analysts differ in their analysis of the pros and 
cons of the formula, but generally agree that two lists of 
candidates could seriously weaken Concertacion coalition cohesion. 
End Summary. 
 
Two Weeks of debate on "Two Lists" 
---------------------------------- 
 
2.  The day after President Bachelet's State of the Union address on 
May 21 (ref a) -- where she called for politicians to approve 
electoral reform and to "leave aside the calculator" -- the Party 
for Democracy (PPD) and the Radical Party (PRSD) informed their 
Concertacion counterparts, the Socialist Party (PS) and the 
Christian Democrats (DC), that they would run their own list of 
candidates for municipal council elections in October.  Two weeks of 
debate, commentary and criticisms in media outlets followed. 
Despite a public call and personal intervention in favor of 
Concertacion unity by Bachelet, the Concertacion parties were unable 
to reach an agreement.  On June 5, they agreed to disagree 
announcing that there will be two Concertacion lists for municipal 
council members (2,134 total seats: one made up of PPD/PRSD 
candidates and the other of PS/DC).  However, the parties agreed 
that the Concertacion will still run a single candidate in the 
mayoral races. 
 
3.  Negotiation of candidacies for the municipal elections has 
always been a challenge for the Concertacion.  Minority parties (PPD 
and PRSD) historically have been forced to limit their candidates in 
favor of the larger parties (DC and PS).  In the last round of 
municipal elections in 2004, the Christian Democrats put up 906 
candidates for municipal councils, while the other Concertacion 
parties each put up between 300 and 400.  Because a majority of 
council members are running for re-election this year, all the 
Concertacion parties would have little wiggle room to increase their 
number of candidates under a single Concertacion list. 
 
Breaking Free of Coalition Constraints 
----------------- -------------------- 
 
4.  Because running as a coalition limits the number of candidates 
each party can present -- and requires tough seat-by-seat 
negotiations among the four Concertacion parties -- breaking out 
into two lists offers some attractions for minority parties.  By 
running two lists, the PPD and PRSD can offer candidacies to over a 
thousand more supporters.  Two lists also give the PPD the chance to 
compete openly with the DC, to whom it gave up 16 municipalities in 
2004 so that it could run its candidate for Mayor of Santiago (who 
then lost to an opposition independent).  The PPD believes that 
running its own list with the Radicals is a Concertacion opportunity 
to elect more council members, arguing that a broader slate will 
capture more votes from centrist voters who might otherwise vote for 
the Alianza opposition. 
 
5.  PPD leader Pepe Auth defended the proposal in an opinion piece 
by arguing that running two lists is a way to "open the doors and 
the windows of the Concertacion" and that what is at stake is not 
the unity of the coalition, but its willingness to "re-encounter the 
social world that it represents."  He stated that running two lists 
for municipal elections is a way to get around Chile's "binomial 
politics mentality" which forces Chile's political diversity into 
two large "blocks" and leaves "few spaces for open competition and 
new leadership."  He called the municipal elections the "front door 
of democracy" and argued that it should be sufficiently wide enough 
to allow women, youth, social leaders, representatives of indigenous 
peoples, and independents to enter. 
 
The Pro-Unity Stance 
-------------------- 
 
6.  For the DC and the PS, the idea of running two lists is 
anathema.  Not only does it open the door to greater intra-coalition 
competition, but it reportedly favors the opposition Alianza as 
Concertacion parties compete with each other.  It is also a sign 
that the DC -- historically the largest coalition party -- has lost 
its leadership position within the Concertacion. 
 
Bachelet Joins the Fray and Gets Burned 
------------------ -------------------- 
 
7.  Initially, President Bachelet limited her involvement to 
underlining Concertacion unity and the government's preference that 
the Concertacion run one list.  The president was criticized for an 
"evident weakness in government leadership" compared to her 
predecessors.  On June 2, Bachelet --reportedly ceding to continued 
pressure from the DC and PS leadership -- called all three former 
Concertacion presidents to a meeting at La Moneda presidential 
palace, where together they called for Concertacion unity.  However, 
by June 5, the parties were not able to reach an agreement on a 
single list and announced that the Concertacion would run two lists 
of municipal council candidates.  Analysts have commented in the 
press that the PPD/PRSD "win" of their own list had a "demolishing 
effect" on Bachelet's leadership. 
 
Reactions 
--------- 
 
8.  Some traditional Concertacion leaders have suggested that 
running two lists is a "Pandora's Box" that signals the "beginning 
of the end" of the Concertacion.  FM Foxley was less dire but said 
"it is not a good signal for the country."  Others are downplaying 
the decision, and argue that the two lists make it easier for all 
parties to run more candidates, include more of their supporters, 
and avoid tense negotiations over how to divvy up a limited number 
of coalition nominees.  Some predict that it won't make much 
difference in the number of elected seats overall.  Larger concerns 
regarding what may happen in the longer term -- congressional and 
presidential elections in 2009 -- have been expressed by the PS/DC 
while the PPD and the PRSD insist that the two lists will bring a 
breath of fresh air to municipal elections.  They argue that the 
move should not be interpreted as a sign of division within the 
Concertacion. 
 
9.  Meanwhile, the center-right opposition is salivating at the 
opportunity to exploit intra-Concertacion rivalries in the municipal 
elections.  The two parties that make up the Alianza, which 
historically run a single list in municipal elections, will try to 
ensure even greater unity this time and to increase their chances of 
victory. 
 
10.  Comment: Bachelet is the first Concertacion president who has 
been unable to maintain coalition unity in the face of an upcoming 
electoral cycle.  The failure to agree on a single list reveals yet 
again the differences between the four Concertacion parties, who see 
elections as a chance to increase their strength within the 
Concertacion.  However, it is difficult to predict the impact of 
"two lists" on the October elections.  Interestingly, the press 
dropped the issue of the two lists immediately after the decision 
was announced.  Only time will tell if the Concertacion parties have 
moved on as well.  End comment. 
 
SIMONS