

Currently released so far... 12689 / 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
2011/05/13
2011/05/14
2011/05/15
2011/05/16
2011/05/17
2011/05/18
2011/05/19
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
AF
ASEC
AR
AEMR
AMGT
AE
AU
AID
AORC
APER
AS
AM
AFIN
AMED
AJ
AGR
ACOA
ANET
ASIG
ABLD
AL
AA
APECO
AGAO
AY
AGMT
APEC
AINF
AG
ACS
AECL
AFFAIRS
ABUD
ASUP
ADANA
AADP
AMCHAMS
ARF
ASEAN
ADPM
ATRN
ALOW
APCS
ADCO
ACAO
AORG
AROC
AO
AODE
ACABQ
AX
AMEX
AFGHANISTAN
AZ
AND
ARM
AQ
ATFN
AMBASSADOR
ACBAQ
AFSI
AFSN
AC
AUC
ASEX
AER
AVERY
AGRICULTURE
ASCH
AFU
AMG
ATPDEA
ASECKFRDCVISKIRFPHUMSMIGEG
AORL
ADM
AN
AIT
BU
BR
BL
BO
BA
BB
BG
BM
BBSR
BH
BEXP
BK
BD
BTIO
BT
BE
BY
BF
BX
BP
BRUSSELS
BILAT
BIDEN
BC
BMGT
BWC
BN
BTIU
CH
CG
CF
CU
CE
CVIS
CASC
CO
CS
CA
CIDA
CBW
CW
CMGT
CI
CODEL
CY
CPAS
CJAN
CD
CWC
CDG
CIA
CL
CROS
CAPC
CTR
CT
CR
CBSA
CEUDA
COM
CFED
CV
CACS
CARSON
CLINTON
CN
CONS
CM
CAC
CIC
COPUOS
CDC
CONDOLEEZZA
CICTE
COUNTER
COUNTRY
CBE
CKGR
CHR
CVR
COUNTERTERRORISM
CITEL
CLEARANCE
COE
CARICOM
CB
CSW
CITT
CACM
CDB
CJUS
CTM
CAN
CLMT
CBC
CNARC
CIS
EG
EZ
EUN
ECON
ETRD
ECPS
EFIN
ENRG
ETTC
EPET
EINV
EAID
EAIR
EWWT
EU
EAGR
EC
ELAB
EIND
EN
EMIN
ESENV
ENNP
EFIS
ELTN
ET
ECIN
EFTA
ES
EINT
EI
ENGR
ETRDEINVECINPGOVCS
ENVI
ETRDECONWTOCS
ECINECONCS
ELN
ELECTIONS
ENVR
EXTERNAL
EXIM
ETRO
ENIV
ESA
ER
EK
EUR
EFINECONCS
EUMEM
EUREM
EPA
ERNG
ENERG
ECA
ETRC
EINVEFIN
ETC
EAP
ECONOMY
EINN
ECONOMIC
EXBS
ECUN
ENGY
ECONOMICS
EIAR
EINDETRD
ECONEFIN
EURN
EDU
ETRDEINVTINTCS
ECIP
EFIM
EAIDS
EREL
EINVETC
ECONCS
ETRA
EAIG
EUC
ERD
ETRN
EINVECONSENVCSJA
EEPET
EUNCH
IS
IZ
IR
IC
IO
IN
ID
IGAD
IT
ILC
IAEA
ITU
ICAO
IMO
IBRD
IMF
ICJ
IAHRC
ITF
INRA
INRO
IWC
IQ
IV
ICRC
ICTY
INRB
IEFIN
ILO
ITRA
ITALY
IBET
ISRAELI
IL
INTELSAT
IRC
IDP
ICTR
IRAQI
IPR
IIP
INMARSAT
ITPGOV
ITALIAN
INTERNAL
IRS
IA
INTERPOL
IEA
INR
IZPREL
IRAJ
IF
ITPHUM
ISRAEL
IACI
INDO
IDA
ISLAMISTS
KSPR
KNNP
KWBG
KAWK
KISL
KPAO
KN
KS
KIPR
KCRM
KDEM
KIRF
KJUS
KHLS
KSCA
KOMC
KAWC
KV
KFRD
KWMN
KTIP
KPWR
KSUM
KGHG
KTIA
KTFN
KIRC
KCOR
KACT
KMDR
KGIC
KOLY
KUNR
KIDE
KMPI
KPKO
KCFE
KVPR
KRAD
KPAL
KFRDCVISCMGTCASCKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG
KTEX
KTDB
KFSC
KZ
KSEP
KFLU
KE
KU
KPLS
KRVC
KRIM
KSTH
KG
KFLO
KPOA
KICC
KDDG
KPRV
KTBT
KBCT
KSAF
KMOC
KDRG
KBIO
KREC
KSTC
KVRP
KBTR
KMIG
KENV
KNSD
KCGC
KWAC
KFRDKIRFCVISCMGTKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG
KWMM
KPRP
KNEI
KPAI
KO
KVIR
KX
KMCA
KCRS
KMFO
KID
KCIP
KNAR
KR
KCRCM
KBTS
KSEO
KHDP
KFIN
KOCI
KGIT
KNUP
KPAONZ
KNUC
KNNPMNUC
KERG
KSCI
KTLA
KHIV
KCSY
KTRD
KMRS
KNPP
KJUST
KCMR
KTER
KRCM
KCFC
KSAC
KCHG
KREL
KFTFN
KCOM
KLIG
KDEMAF
KAID
KGCC
KICA
KHUM
KSEC
KPIN
KESS
KDEV
KWWMN
KOM
KWNM
KRFD
KRGY
KIFR
KWMNCS
KPAK
KOMS
KHSA
MPOS
MOPS
MARR
MTCR
MNUC
MASS
MX
MCAP
MAR
MTRE
MASC
MK
MG
MTCRE
MI
MD
MA
MO
MY
MU
ML
MRCRE
MAS
MEDIA
MC
MR
MIL
MW
MARAD
MAPP
MZ
MP
MOPPS
MTS
MLS
MILI
MEPN
MEPI
MEETINGS
MERCOSUR
MT
MCC
MIK
MAPS
MV
MILITARY
MDC
MEPP
MASSMNUC
MUCN
MQADHAFI
NATO
NG
NL
NZ
NT
NW
NO
NU
NS
NPT
NASA
NI
NK
NSG
NE
NORAD
NAFTA
NP
NATIONAL
NSSP
NSF
NA
NGO
NV
NR
NDP
NIPP
NZUS
NH
NC
NEW
NRR
NAR
NATOPREL
NPG
NSC
NPA
NSFO
OPDC
OPRC
OEXC
OTRA
ODIP
OIIP
OVIP
OPIC
OPCW
OAS
OREP
OSCE
OSCI
OES
OFDP
OECD
OCS
OIC
OPAD
OVP
OHUM
OFFICIALS
OIE
OTR
OMIG
OSAC
OBSP
OFDA
ON
OCII
PREL
PGOV
PARM
PINR
PTER
PHUM
PK
PREF
PM
PHSA
PA
PINS
PE
PBTS
PCI
PO
PL
POGOV
PAK
PEL
PGIV
PROP
PP
PBIO
POL
POLITICS
POLICY
PINL
PBT
PMIL
POV
PTBS
PG
POSTS
PALESTINIAN
PROV
PNAT
PINF
PRL
PAS
PDOV
PRAM
PREO
PAHO
PHUMPGOV
PAO
PREFA
PSI
POLITICAL
PAIGH
PARMS
PROG
PTERE
PRGOV
PORG
PS
PGOF
PKFK
PSOE
PEPR
PPA
PINT
PMAR
PRELP
PNG
PFOR
PUNE
PGOVLO
PHUMBA
PSEPC
PNR
POLINT
PGOVE
PHALANAGE
PARTY
PDEM
PECON
PGOC
PY
PLN
PHUH
PF
PHUS
PU
PARTIES
PCUL
PGGV
PSA
PGOVSMIGKCRMKWMNPHUMCVISKFRDCA
PHUMPREL
RS
RU
RW
REACTION
RCMP
RSO
RO
RP
ROOD
RM
ROBERT
RICE
REGION
RSP
RF
RIGHTS
RIGHTSPOLMIL
RUPREL
RELATIONS
RFE
REPORT
SY
SP
SOCI
SMIG
SNAR
SCUL
SC
SU
SO
SI
SENV
SZ
SW
SA
SR
SF
SEVN
SN
STEINBERG
SEN
SG
SYR
SWE
SK
SH
SNARCS
SAARC
SNARIZ
SPCE
SARS
SNARN
SCRS
SYRIA
SL
SENVKGHG
SAN
ST
SIPDIS
SSA
SPCVIS
SOFA
SANC
SHI
SHUM
SIPRS
TSPA
TSPL
TU
TBIO
TRGY
TPHY
TS
TP
TW
TBID
TI
TF
TZ
TD
TT
TN
TNGD
TC
TX
TH
TL
TIP
THPY
TV
TK
TERRORISM
TO
TRSY
TURKEY
TINT
TFIN
TAGS
TR
US
UNSC
UNGA
UK
UP
UNCHC
UN
UNMIK
UNCSD
UY
USTR
USOAS
UNHRC
UNFCYP
UG
UNAUS
UNESCO
UNIDROIT
UNO
UV
UNHCR
USUN
UZ
USNC
UNCHR
UNCND
UNEP
USEU
USPS
USAID
UE
UNVIE
UAE
UNDP
UNODC
UNCHS
UNFICYP
UNDESCO
UNC
UNPUOS
UNDC
UNICEF
Browse by classification
Community resources
courage is contagious
Viewing cable 06QUITO2937, ELECTION WRAP-UP: CORREA COMPLIMENTS BUSH;
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. #06QUITO2937.
Reference ID | Created | Released | Classification | Origin |
---|---|---|---|---|
06QUITO2937 | 2006-12-01 23:52 | 2011-05-02 00:00 | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | Embassy Quito |
VZCZCXYZ0001
OO RUEHWEB
DE RUEHQT #2937/01 3352352
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 012352Z DEC 06
FM AMEMBASSY QUITO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 5808
INFO RUEHBO/AMEMBASSY BOGOTA PRIORITY 6221
RUEHCV/AMEMBASSY CARACAS PRIORITY 2196
RUEHLP/AMEMBASSY LA PAZ DEC 0248
RUEHPE/AMEMBASSY LIMA PRIORITY 1193
RUEHGL/AMCONSUL GUAYAQUIL PRIORITY 1510
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC
RHMFISS/CDR USSOUTHCOM MIAMI FL
UNCLAS QUITO 002937
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
PLEASE PASS ALSO TO USOAS AND USAID/LAC
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV KDEM EC
SUBJECT: ELECTION WRAP-UP: CORREA COMPLIMENTS BUSH;
CABINET CHOICES; POLITICAL REFORM DEBATE
REF: A. QUITO 2904
¶B. QUITO 2455
¶C. QUITO 2699
¶1. (SBU) Summary: Final certified results of the election
are now expected by December 4, confirming a 57-43%
presidential victory by Rafael Correa over Alvaro Noboa.
Presumptive president-elect Correa received a congratulatory
phone call from President Bush on November 30. Correa
subsequently publicly praised President Bush for his "class"
in making the call. Noboa has refused to comment publicly on
the results until final. Meanwhile, speculation is rampant
over Correa's possible Cabinet picks, and public debate of
his controversial Constituent Assembly proposal has already
begun. Signaling openness to dialogue, Correa has pledged
not to dissolve the incoming Congress. End Summary.
Pres. Bush Call Very Well Received
----------------------------------
¶2. (U) Immediately following President Bush's phone call to
Rafael Correa on November 30, the Correa team put out a press
release reporting that it took place. Correa subsequently
commented publicly that said President Bush had demonstrated
his "classiness" in making the call despite Correa having
made a well-publicized disparaging joke about the President
during the campaign. The call was reported prominently by
national media, and was generally characterized as a very
positive signal from the USG, building on earlier positive
signals from the Department and the Ambassador's
congratulatory call.
Results Almost Final
--------------------
¶3. (SBU) With 99.81 percent of the votes counted, Supreme
Electoral Tribunal (TSE) President Xavier Cazar is now saying
the final results will be announced on December 4. Results
have been stuck at 99% since November 29, with the overseas
vote count delaying the process. Once the TSE finally
finishes the count, candidates will have two days to register
appeals or complaints about the process and the TSE has up to
seven days to resolve them. The votes remaining to be
counted will not change the outcome of 56.67% for Rafael
Correa, 43.33% for Alvaro Noboa. Noboa won only the three
coastal provinces of Guayas, Manabi and Esmeraldas.
Noboa Silent
------------
¶4. (U) Noboa has still not spoken publicly about the
election results since November 27, when he hinted at
"conditions of fraud" (Ref A) and said he would not
acknowledge any election result until the TSE finished its
official vote count. Noboa met with all 28 newly-elected
PRIAN congressional deputies on November 30, but no decisions
were announced after the meeting about the elections, or
PRIAN choices for President of Congress and congressional
delegation chief, and a position on the presidential
elections.
Correa Re-Affirms Cabinet Choices
---------------------------------
¶5. (SBU) The night of the election, Correa reaffirmed
several of his earlier-announced Cabinet choices, including
Ricardo Patino as Economy and Finance Minister; Alberto
Acosta as Energy and Mines Minister; Janeth Sanchez as
Secretary for Social Welfare; Gustavo Larrea as Minister of
SIPDIS
Government; and Carlos Pareja as President of Petroecuador.
The following biographic information supplements that
reported in Ref B.
--Originally from Guayaquil, Ricardo Patino met his wife
while they both worked with labor and women's groups. His
wife, Miriam Alcivar, is the executive director of the
Ecuadorian Center for the Promotion and Action of Women in
Guayaquil. Patino enlisted support for Correa's candidacy
from ex-members of "Alfaro Vive y Carajo." He is also one of
the so-called "forajidos" who demonstrated to overthrow the
Gutierrez government. Patino is expected to take the lead in
debt repayment restructuring, and created "Jubilee 2000," a
Guayaquil-based group promoting forgiveness of Ecuador's
foreign debt. He was formerly a Socialist Party member.
--Alberto Acosta, 58, was born in Quito to a well-off banking
family. In the 1980's he worked at Petroecuador's
predecessor, the Ecuadorian State Petroleum Corporation. In
1995, he was sentenced to two years in prison after accusing
financial entities of illegalities, later receiving a
suspended sentence. He has worked as an independent
consultant and in recent years became known as a political
activist and authored several books on economic issues and
published articles critical of neo-liberalism. He currently
works at the Latin-American Institute of Social
Investigation.
--Gustavo Larrea is a leftist intellectual and human rights
activist. In contrast to his Marxist past, he has recently
talked about the need for Ecuador to join the global economy.
He was at the forefront of demonstrations to remove from
power former president Lucio Gutierrez. During the campaign,
Larrea served as campaign manager and head of Correa's
political committee, charged with setting campaign policy.
He has been charged by president-elect Correa to conduct a
dialogue on political reform with political parties.
Other Possible Correa Cabinet Choices
-------------------------------------
¶6. (SBU) In the wake of the election, speculation is rampant
about other possible Correa Cabinet choices. Left-leaning
academic Beatriz Sanchez, a specialist in security affairs
teaching at FLACSO university in Quito, appears to be the
front-runner for Defense Minister. Homero Rendon, Correa's
personal secretary, is likely to continue in that capacity.
Maria Sol Corral and Juan Carlos Toledo, who managed Correa's
image and communications during the campaign, are reported to
be the favorites for the Spokesperson and Communication
Secretary portfolios, respectively. Correa advisor Fander
SIPDIS
Falconi is rumored to be named Minister of Environment.
Correa has reaffirmed a campaign promise to form a new
Ministry of Transportation, but has not named anyone
preferred to lead the new ministry. Biographic information
on three other rumored cabinet choices follows.
--Enrique Ayala Mora is rumored to be Correa's choice for
Foreign Minster, among others. Hailing from Imbabura
province, Ayala Mora is the leader of the Socialist Party and
rector of Universidad Andina Simon Bolivar. In contacts with
the Embassy he has come across as moderate and knowledgeable
about the U.S., and has advocated more study of the U.S. in
local university curricula. In addition to Ayala Mora,
Javier Ponce Leiva, the architect of Ecuador's foreign policy
whitepaper (Ref C), told the DCM on November 29 that he
expected to be named to the same post. There was also some
speculation that FM Francisco Carrion would stay on in his
position under Correa.
--Carlos Vallejo Lopez is rumored to have Correa's support
for the post of Minister of Agriculture. Vallejo served as
Minister of Agriculture under President Hurtado ('81-83). As
a member of the ruling Popular Democracy party he served as
President of Congress in 1992. He served in the 2002-2006
Congress as a member of Congress for Noboa's PRIAN, before
resigning from office in the wake of the Gutierrez overthrow
and later joining the Correa campaign. Vallejo, 67, is a
native of Riobamba, Chimborazo province.
--Mauricio Davalos is rumored to be Correa's choice for Trade
Minister. Davalos, 52, is an economist and attorney, and
like Vallejo, originally hails from Riobamba. He was served
as Agriculture Minister under president Gustavo Noboa. A
member of and vice president of the centrist Popular
Democracy (DP, now UDC) party, Davalos served as a member of
the National Constitutional Assembly from 1997-98. He also
served as Minister of Natural Resources and Energy in 1979,
under President Roldos; as General Manager of Ecuador's
Central Bank (1979-81); as Governor of the IMF; and as
President of the Ecuadorian Flower Exporter Federation
(1990-94). Davalos is a longtime member of the CORDES think
tank, headed by ex-president Oswaldo Hurtado, since 1986.
Davalos holds an economics degree from Catholic University in
Quito and a Master's degree from Vanderbilt University in
Nashville, Tennessee. He has taught economics at Catholic
University in Quito and at New Mexico University.
Political Reform Debate Begins
------------------------------
¶7. (SBU) Since taking office Correa has signaled some
openness to dialogue, if not compromise, on his controversial
political reform proposal. He has directed Gustavo Larrea to
initiate dialogue with political parties on the new
government's proposed referendum on whether to hold an
unbounded Constituent Assembly. Correa has also affirmed
that creation of a Constituent Assembly would not
automatically dissolve Congress; both institutions would
function simultaneously, with the Assembly rewriting the
constitution while the Congress limited itself to its
"oversight" role.
¶8. (SBU) Correa asserts authority under article 104 (2) of
the constitution, which permits the President to convoke a
referendum when "in his opinion, it deals with issues of
transcendental importance for the country, different from
those in the previous clause." (Note: the previous clause,
104 (1) mandates that any referendum containing changes to
the constitution be previously approved by Congress, leading
opponents to conclude that a referendum to authorize an
Assembly to rewrite the constitution must first be approved
by Congress, which Correa refutes. End Note.)
¶9. (SBU) Correa maintains that on taking office he would
order electoral authorities by decree to organize the
referendum consisting of a single question, along the lines
of "do you approve a constituent assembly to be constituted
under the following rules." The Assembly would not have a
time limit to complete its work, would be composed of 130
directly-elected representatives, including 24 national
representatives, six representatives of Ecuadorian migrants
overseas, and 100 representatives elected under existing
election rules for Congress, by province. To run for the
Assembly, individuals would be required to gather signatures
from 0.5% of the national electorate. All Assembly members
would receive government funding for publicity, and would be
individually elected; no voting by party list or
proportional representation schemes would be employed,
leading, according to Correa, to election of "the most
capable, not those with the most resources, or through party
lists...totally different from the Congress."
¶10. (SBU) Thus far, Pachakutik, the far-left Movement for
Popular Democracy (MPD), and the Socialist Party have openly
supported Correa's referendum/Assembly proposal. Other
parties are more equivocal, but apparently leaning toward
support, including the Democratic Left Party, Leon Roldos'
RED movement, and Abdala Bucaram's PRE. Together, these
parties hold 38 of 100 seats in Congress. Lucio Gutierrez'
Patriotic Society Party has signaled an openness to dialog on
the idea, and will probably be the key swing element. Noboa's
PRIAN bloc and the PSC are expected to oppose the proposal.
Comment
-------
¶11. (SBU) President Bush's congratulatory call was clearly
welcomed by Correa as a signal of USG respect for the
democratic process here. The Ambassador explored with Correa
areas of cooperative bilateral relations in further detail in
a meeting late on December 1 (SepTel). Once the TSE
announces final election results, Noboa may lodge procedural
challenges, which are unlikely to change results in the face
of Correa's large margin of victory. The debate over
Correa's Constituent Assembly proposal will continue up to
and past inauguration day on January 15, 2007. While
Correa's openness to dialogue is positive, he is showing few
signs thus far of willingness to compromise to the extent
necessary to attract majority support and prevent a conflict
with the new Congress.
JEWELL