This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.

C O N F I D E N T I A L  CARACAS 001133 
 
SIPDIS 
 
 
NSC FOR TSHANNON AND CBARTON 
USCINSO ALSO FOR POLAD 
STATE PASS USAID FOR DCHA/OTI 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/30/2014 
TAGS: PGOV PHUM KDEM VE
SUBJECT: ELECTORAL CHAMBER REAFFIRMS ITS JURISDICTION 
 
REF: A. CARACAS 01080 
 
     ¶B. CARACAS 00923 AND PREVIOUS 
 
Classified By: Political Counselor Abelardo A. Arias for Reason 1.4(d) 
 
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Summary: 
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¶1. (C) The Electoral Chamber of Venezuela's Supreme Court 
(TSJ) March 29 confirmed its jurisdiction in matters 
concerning the National Electoral Council (CNE) and urged the 
TSJ en banc to decide the jurisdictional dispute between the 
 
SIPDIS 
court's Electoral and Constitutional chambers (reftels). 
Citing the continuing dispute, pro-GoV CNE Director Jorge 
Rodriguez said March 30 that the CNE will delay its 
announcement regarding an appeals process (reparo), but will 
announce final figures for signatures soon.  The Electoral 
Chamber also exhorted CNE, the opposition and the GoV to find 
a political solution.  In the end, it is perhaps the most 
realistic hope for scheduling a presidential referendum.  End 
summary. 
 
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Electoral Chamber Says It's Good Enough 
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¶2. (U) The Electoral Chamber of Venezuela's Supreme Court 
(TSJ) batted the ball back March 29 when it confirmed its 
jurisdiction in matters concerning the National Electoral 
Council (CNE) and suggested that the TSJ should meet en banc 
to decide the growing dispute between the court's Electoral 
and Constitutional chambers.  The statement is the most 
recent salvo in a series of competing pronouncements coming 
from the rival court chambers since March 15, when the 
Electoral Chamber first instructed the CNE to include over 
870,000 signatures in the count towards a presidential 
referendum (reftels).  The TSJ Constitutional Chamber had 
issued a decision March 23 purporting to nullify the 
Electoral Chamber's March 15 decision (reftel B). 
 
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Statement Asks Court and Parties to Settle the Matter 
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¶3. (U) The Electoral Chamber's March 29 statement rebutted 
point-by-point the Constitutional Chamber's recent 
pronouncement, arguing that the Electoral Chamber was not a 
subordinate tribunal as the Constitutional Chamber's March 23 
ruling suggested.  The Electoral Chamber also referred to 
Article 297 of the Venezuela constitution, which assigns the 
Electoral Chamber purview over issues regarding the CNE.  The 
Electoral Chamber also urged the entire TSJ to meet en banc 
to settle the growing "dispute on court authority."  In 
addition, the Electoral Chamber called on the litigants in 
the subject case, the CNE, the opposition and the GoV, to 
craft an agreement on the appeals process "in the spirit of 
conciliation" to avoid further delays in the courts. 
 
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CNE GoV Rep: I Told You This Would Hurt 
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¶4. (U) Pro-GoV CNE Director Jorge Rodriguez said March 30 
that, in response to the Electoral Chamber announcement, the 
CNE will delay its decision on an appeals process (reparo). 
Rodriguez said the CNE had planned to issue final signature 
figures for the presidential recall March 30, but he will 
delay the announcement because the TSJ Electoral Chamber said 
the CNE should speak further with the opposition.  Rodriguez 
reiterated that while the CNE will only comply with TSJ 
decisions from Constitutional Chamber, he said the advice of 
the Electoral Chamber was "very prudent" and the CNE has 
therefore decided to incorporate all parties-- including GoV 
and opposition representatives-- in the discussion to design 
an appeals process.  Rodriguez also scolded the opposition 
for pursuing a court action, recalling he had warned that the 
judicial route would only slow the process.  Rodriguez said 
the CNE decision to delay the announcement of signature 
 
figures proves his warning was correct. 
 
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Carter Center Pleased with Electoral Chamber Announcement 
--------------------------------------------- ------------ 
 
¶5. (U) Carter Center representative Jennifer McCoy, visiting 
in Caracas March 30, said she was "pleased" with the content 
of the Electoral Chamber's March 29 statement, noting its 
call for continued discussions regarding an appeals process. 
McCoy said the Carter Center would await the CNE's announced 
results, which she expected would come out by April 2.  She 
also praised her CNE colleagues, and called on all parties to 
guarantee the rights of all Venezuelan citizens. 
 
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Comment: 
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¶6. (C) The Electoral Chamber's announcement, as expected, 
reaffirmed its role as the opposition's champion in the TSJ 
contests against the pro-GoV Constitutional Chamber.  Because 
pro-GoV TSJ president Ivan Rincon controls several key 
procedural mechanisms, it is unlikely that the case will be 
taken up by the full TSJ.  Stalling the issue in the sticky 
web of TSJ procedures is effectively a Chavez victory.  The 
Electoral Chamber's exhortation to the parties to find a 
political solution is, in the end, the most realistic hope 
for scheduling a presidential referendum. 
SHAPIRO 
 
 
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      2004CARACA01133 - CONFIDENTIAL