Cable de la embajada norteamericana en San Salvador sobre la Convención del FMLN

ID:	240049
Date:	2009-12-15 22:09:00
Origin:	09SANSALVADOR1105
Source:	Embassy San Salvador
Classification:	CONFIDENTIAL
Dunno:
Destination:	VZCZCXYZ0001 OO RUEHWEB DE RUEHSN #1105 3492209 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O R 152209Z DEC 09 FM AMEMBASSY SAN SALVADOR TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 0131 INFO WHA CENTRAL AMERICAN COLLECTIVE
C O N F I D E N T I A L SAN SALVADOR 001105 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 2019/12/15 TAGS: PREL, PGOV, FMLN, ES SUBJECT: FMLN Affirms Socialist Course; Leadership Acknowledges Need for Strong Relations with U.S. REF: EMAIL: CLASSIFIED BY: RBlau, Charge, state, FO; REASON: 1.4(B), (D) 1. (C) Summary: At its 25th annual convention December 13, the FMLN, without President Funes present, voiced solidarity with Cuba and Venezuela, repeated opposition to "the Empire," and voted to join the Fifth Socialist International. It decided to devolve authority to select candidates for local office to local party organizations. Senior FMLN leadership told us December 14 there had been no change in the FMLN's stated desire for good relations with the U.S. and attributed some of the anti-U.S. rhetoric by FMLN members (including VP Sanchez Ceren) to events outside of El Salvador, and an inability to adapt to new circumstances. End Summary. 2. (SBU) In an atmosphere closer to a rock concert than a political convention, the FMLN held its 25th annual national convention December 13 in San Salvador where it affirmed solidarity with Cuba and Venezuela, opposition to "the Empire," and adopted changes to the party statutes with virtually no opposition. The FMLN voted to join -- as party, not as government -- the Fifth Socialist International proposed by Venezuela's Chavez and other left-leaning leaders and declared its alliance with Chavez' "21st Century Socialism." In what could prove to be a significant change in future elections, delegates voted to modify party bylaws to allow local party organizations, rather than national FMLN leadership, to choose candidates for local office. In his keynote speech, VP Salvador Sanchez Ceren compared leaves blowing through the meeting area with the "dead leaves of ARENA," noting the disarray and internecine conflict that has divided the Salvadoran Right. He declared that the FMLN's socialism would be distinctly Salvadoran and called on the GOES to choose between socialism or neoliberalism. Salvadoran President Mauricio Funes did not attend the FMLN convention. 3. (C) Charge, Acting DCM and PolCouns met December 14 with Medardo Gonzalez, FMLN General Coordinator and head of legislative bloc, Sigfrido Reyes, FMLN Spokesman and Assembly Deputy, and Oscar Ortiz, Santa Tecla Mayor. Gonzalez stated categorically there had been no change in the FMLN's stance of seeking a constructive relationship with the U.S. Noting recent statements by VP Sanchez Ceren criticizing the U.S., the three were quick to say there was no anti-U.S. policy in the FMLN and, on the contrary, the FMLN and the Funes Government saw strengthening U.S.-Salvadoran relations as a priority. Reyes, agreeing with the Charge that the U.S. and FMLN could disagree civilly, emphasized Honduras as the FMLN's and Latin America's biggest disappointment with the USG, arguing that ousted Honduran President Zelaya had received political assurances of his reinstatement that had later been withdrawn, effectively strengthening the hand of coup leaders. Reyes said he believes this has badly damaged U.S. credibility in the region. Charge noted that the commitment to seek Zelaya's reinstatement depended on action by the Honduran Congress, that the USG supported Zelaya's reinstatement, but did not want to impose a solution. Gonzalez said he recognized it was much easier for the FMLN to take a position on Honduras than it was for the Funes government. Ortiz suggested much of the anti-Imperialist commentary still emanating from the FMLN was, in part, a function of the party's slow adaptation to a new world of governing and the difficulty of setting aside long-held political rhetoric. 4. (C) Comment: The FMLN's historic, guerrilla roots run deep, and the rhetoric of years on the battlefield and two decades in opposition will not disappear quickly, or maybe ever. While our outreach to the FMLN during the 2008-2009 campaign and since Funes' inauguration has paid off in open channels of communications, we continue to combat old suspicions of U.S. motives in El Salvador and the region. On the other hand, good relations with the U.S. enjoys a 90 percent approval rating. If the FMLN overdoes its radicalism, it will have a hard time sustaining its current electoral advantages. BLAU