

Currently released so far... 12646 / 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
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
AORC
AF
AU
ASEC
AMGT
AS
APER
AR
AEMR
AG
ARF
AJ
AA
AINF
APECO
AODE
ABLD
AMG
ATPDEA
AE
AMED
AGAO
AFIN
AL
ASUP
ASECKFRDCVISKIRFPHUMSMIGEG
AID
ASCH
AM
AORL
ASEAN
APEC
ADM
AFSI
AFSN
ADCO
ABUD
AN
AY
AIT
ACOA
ASIG
AADP
AGR
ANET
ADPM
AMCHAMS
ATRN
ALOW
ACS
APCS
AFFAIRS
ADANA
AECL
ACAO
AORG
AROC
AO
ACABQ
AGMT
AX
AMEX
AFGHANISTAN
AZ
AND
ARM
AQ
ATFN
AMBASSADOR
ACBAQ
AC
AUC
ASEX
AER
AVERY
AGRICULTURE
AFU
BR
BTIO
BY
BO
BA
BU
BL
BN
BM
BF
BEXP
BK
BG
BB
BTIU
BBSR
BRUSSELS
BD
BIDEN
BE
BH
BILAT
BC
BT
BP
BX
BMGT
BWC
CS
CA
CH
CD
CO
CE
CU
CVIS
CASC
CJAN
CI
CPAS
CMGT
CDG
CIC
CAC
CBW
CWC
COUNTER
CW
CT
CR
CY
CNARC
CACM
CG
CB
CM
CV
CIDA
CLINTON
CHR
COE
CIS
CDC
CONS
CF
CFED
CODEL
CBSA
CEUDA
COM
CARSON
COPUOS
CIA
CL
CN
CROS
CAPC
CTR
CACS
CONDOLEEZZA
CICTE
COUNTRY
CBE
CKGR
CVR
COUNTERTERRORISM
CITEL
CLEARANCE
CARICOM
CSW
CITT
CDB
CJUS
CTM
CAN
CLMT
CBC
EAID
ECON
EFIS
ETRD
EC
ENRG
EINV
EFIN
EAGR
ETTC
ECPS
EINT
EPET
ES
EIND
EAIR
EU
EUN
EG
ELAB
EWWT
EMIN
ECIN
ESA
ER
ETRDEINVECINPGOVCS
EAIG
ET
ETRO
ELTN
EI
EN
EUR
EK
EUMEM
ENIV
EPA
ENGR
EXTERNAL
EUREM
ELN
EUC
ENERG
EZ
ERD
EFTA
ETRC
ETRN
EINVECONSENVCSJA
EEPET
EUNCH
ENVR
ESENV
ENNP
ERNG
ENVI
ETRDECONWTOCS
ECINECONCS
EFINECONCS
EXIM
ELECTIONS
ECA
EINVEFIN
ETC
EAP
ECONOMY
EINN
ECONOMIC
EXBS
ECUN
ENGY
ECONOMICS
EIAR
EINDETRD
ECONEFIN
EURN
EDU
ETRDEINVTINTCS
ECIP
EFIM
EAIDS
EREL
EINVETC
ECONCS
ETRA
IC
IV
IAEA
IR
IT
IO
IN
IS
IZ
IMO
IPR
IWC
ICAO
ILO
ID
ICTY
ICJ
INMARSAT
INDO
IL
IMF
IRS
IQ
IA
ICRC
IDA
IAHRC
IBRD
ISLAMISTS
IDP
IGAD
ILC
ITRA
ICTR
ITU
IBET
ITF
INRA
INRO
INTELSAT
IEFIN
IRC
IRAQI
ITALY
ISRAELI
IIP
ITPGOV
ITALIAN
INTERNAL
INTERPOL
IEA
INRB
INR
IZPREL
IRAJ
IF
ITPHUM
ISRAEL
IACI
KBTR
KPAO
KOMC
KCRM
KDEM
KHIV
KBIO
KTIA
KMDR
KNNP
KSCA
KTIP
KWMN
KIPR
KCOR
KRVC
KFRD
KPAL
KWBG
KE
KTDB
KUNR
KSPR
KJUS
KGHG
KAWC
KCFE
KGCC
KOLY
KSUM
KACT
KISL
KTFN
KFLU
KSTH
KMPI
KHDP
KS
KHLS
KSEP
KMRS
KID
KN
KU
KAWK
KSAC
KCOM
KAID
KIRC
KWMNCS
KMCA
KNEI
KCRS
KPKO
KICC
KIRF
KPOA
KV
KDRG
KSEO
KVPR
KTER
KBCT
KFIN
KGIC
KCIP
KZ
KG
KWAC
KRAD
KPRP
KTEX
KNAR
KPLS
KPAK
KSTC
KFLO
KSCI
KIDE
KO
KOMS
KHSA
KSAF
KPWR
KVRP
KENV
KNSD
KFRDCVISCMGTCASCKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG
KCGC
KVIR
KFSC
KDDG
KPRV
KTBT
KWMM
KX
KMFO
KR
KMOC
KRIM
KCRCM
KBTS
KOCI
KGIT
KNUP
KPAONZ
KNUC
KNNPMNUC
KERG
KTLA
KCSY
KTRD
KNPP
KJUST
KCMR
KRCM
KCFC
KCHG
KREL
KFTFN
KLIG
KDEMAF
KPAI
KICA
KFRDKIRFCVISCMGTKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG
KHUM
KREC
KSEC
KPIN
KESS
KDEV
KWWMN
KOM
KWNM
KRFD
KMIG
KRGY
KIFR
MARR
MOPS
MASS
MX
MNUC
MCAP
MO
MR
MEPP
MTCRE
MAPP
MEPN
MZ
MT
ML
MA
MY
MIL
MD
MASSMNUC
MU
MK
MTCR
MUCN
MAS
MEDIA
MAR
MC
MI
MQADHAFI
MPOS
MARAD
MG
MTRE
MASC
MW
MRCRE
MP
MOPPS
MTS
MLS
MILI
MEPI
MEETINGS
MERCOSUR
MCC
MIK
MAPS
MV
MILITARY
MDC
NATO
NZ
NL
NO
NK
NU
NPT
NI
NG
NEW
NSF
NA
NPG
NSG
NE
NSSP
NS
NDP
NSC
NAFTA
NH
NV
NP
NPA
NSFO
NT
NW
NASA
NORAD
NGO
NR
NATIONAL
NIPP
NZUS
NC
NRR
NAR
NATOPREL
OEXC
OTRA
OPRC
OVIP
OAS
OECD
OIIP
OSCE
OREP
OPIC
OFDP
OMIG
ODIP
OVP
OSCI
OIC
OIE
OPDC
ON
OCII
OPAD
OBSP
OFFICIALS
OPCW
OHUM
OES
OCS
OTR
OSAC
OFDA
PGOV
PREL
PM
PHUM
PTER
PINR
PINS
PREF
PARM
PL
PK
PU
PBTS
PBIO
PHSA
PE
PO
PROP
PA
PNAT
POL
PLN
POLITICAL
PARTIES
PCUL
PAK
PGGV
PAO
PSA
PGOVSMIGKCRMKWMNPHUMCVISKFRDCA
PAS
PGIV
PHUMPREL
PDOV
PHUMPGOV
PCI
PTBS
PEL
PG
POLITICS
POLICY
PINL
POGOV
POV
PRAM
PP
PREO
PAHO
PBT
PREFA
PSI
PAIGH
POSTS
PMIL
PALESTINIAN
PARMS
PROG
PTERE
PRGOV
PORG
PS
PGOF
PKFK
PSOE
PEPR
PPA
PINT
PMAR
PRELP
PINF
PNG
PFOR
PUNE
PGOVLO
PHUMBA
PSEPC
PNR
POLINT
PGOVE
PHALANAGE
PARTY
PDEM
PECON
PROV
PGOC
PY
PHUH
PF
PRL
PHUS
RU
RS
RO
RW
RP
RFE
REGION
REACTION
REPORT
RCMP
RM
RSO
ROBERT
RICE
RSP
RF
ROOD
RIGHTS
RIGHTSPOLMIL
RUPREL
RELATIONS
SENV
SU
SCUL
SOCI
SNAR
SL
SW
SMIG
SP
SY
SA
SHUM
SZ
SYRIA
SF
SR
SO
SPCE
SARS
SN
SC
SIPRS
SI
SYR
SEVN
SNARCS
SH
SAARC
STEINBERG
SG
SCRS
SENVKGHG
SAN
ST
SIPDIS
SNARIZ
SNARN
SSA
SK
SPCVIS
SOFA
SANC
SWE
SHI
SEN
TW
TU
TBIO
TSPL
TPHY
TRGY
TC
TT
TSPA
TINT
TERRORISM
TX
TR
TS
TN
TD
TH
TIP
TNGD
TI
TZ
TF
THPY
TP
TBID
TL
TV
TK
TO
TRSY
TURKEY
TFIN
TAGS
UN
UK
UNSC
UNGA
US
UNESCO
UP
UNHRC
UNAUS
USTR
UNDP
UNEP
UNMIK
UY
UNCHR
UNO
UG
UZ
UNPUOS
USEU
UNDC
UNICEF
UV
UNHCR
UNCND
UNCHC
UNCSD
USUN
USOAS
UNFCYP
USNC
UNIDROIT
USPS
USAID
UE
UNVIE
UAE
UNODC
UNCHS
UNFICYP
UNDESCO
UNC
Browse by classification
Community resources
courage is contagious
Viewing cable 06SAOPAULO400, PSDB OFFICIAL EYES UPCOMING ELECTIONS
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. #06SAOPAULO400.
Reference ID | Created | Released | Classification | Origin |
---|---|---|---|---|
06SAOPAULO400 | 2006-04-13 10:16 | 2011-03-05 00:00 | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | Consulate Sao Paulo |
VZCZCXRO2250
PP RUEHRG
DE RUEHSO #0400/01 1031016
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 131016Z APR 06
FM AMCONSUL SAO PAULO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 4849
INFO RUEHBR/AMEMBASSY BRASILIA 5992
RUEHBU/AMEMBASSY BUENOS AIRES 2155
RUEHAC/AMEMBASSY ASUNCION 2501
RUEHCV/AMEMBASSY CARACAS 0242
RUEHMN/AMEMBASSY MONTEVIDEO 1908
RUEHLP/AMEMBASSY LA PAZ 2709
RUEHSG/AMEMBASSY SANTIAGO 1650
RUEHRI/AMCONSUL RIO DE JANEIRO 6984
RUEHRG/AMCONSUL RECIFE 2834
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC
RHMFISS/CDR USSOUTHCOM MIAMI FL
RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHDC
RUCPDOC/USDOC WASHDC 2365
RUEHC/DEPT OF LABOR WASHDC
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 SAO PAULO 000400
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
NSC FOR CRONIN
STATE PASS USTR FOR SULLIVAN/LEZNY
DEPT OF TREASURY OASIA, DAS LEE AND FPARODI
USDOC FOR 4332/ITA/MAC/WH/OLAC/SHUPKA
USDOC ALSO FOR 3134/USFCS/OIO/EOLSON/DDEVITO/DANDERSON
STATE PASS EXIMBANK
STATE PASS OPIC FOR DMORONESE, NRIVERA, CMERVENNE DOL FOR ILAB MMITTELHAUSER SOUTHCOM FOR POLAD
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PINR BR
SUBJECT: PSDB OFFICIAL EYES UPCOMING ELECTIONS
REF: (A) SAO PAULO 355;
(B) BRASILIA 640 AND PREVIOUS;
(C) SAO PAULO 316;
(D) SAO PAULO 206;
(E) SAO PAULO 102
SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED - PLEASE PROTECT ACCORDINGLY.
------- SUMMARY -------
¶1. (U) Poloff and Political Assistant met April 7 with Sao Paulo Municipal Secretary of Government Aloysio Nunes Ferreira to discuss the local and national political scene following Mayor Jose Serra's resignation to run for Governor of Sao Paulo state (ref A). Nunes, who is close to Serra, was sanguine about the prospects of his Brazilian Social Democracy Party (PSDB) to capture both the Presidency and the Governor's Palace. End Summary.
------------------------- "KASSAB ASKED ME TO STAY" -------------------------
¶2. (U) On April 7, Poloff and Political Assistant visited Aloysio Nunes Ferreira in his City Hall office. In the midst of large-scale resignations of both municipal and state officials to comply with the requirement that executive branch officials resign six months before any election in which they plan to seek government office, Nunes chose to stay on as Sao Paulo Municipal Secretary of Government, an important position responsible for coordinating the work of the other Secretariats. He indicated that new Mayor Gilberto Kassab had asked him to remain to help ensure continuity in city government after the resignation of Mayor Serra and a number of Secretaries. Kassab (see ref E), a member of the Liberal Front SIPDIS Party (PFL) who was Vice-Mayor and will serve as Mayor through December 2008, has pledged to continue Serra's policies.
¶3. (U) By remaining in City Hall, the 61-year-old Nunes forfeited his eligibility to run for re-election to the federal Chamber of Deputies. (Note: Re-elected to Congress in 2002, Nunes took leave from the Chamber to serve in Serra's administration. End Note.) He noted that he had been elected a deputy five times, twice (1982 and 1986) to the Sao Paulo state Legislative Assembly and three times to the federal Chamber (1995, 1999, and 2003), and that was enough. He planned to help administer the city government, liaise with the Serra gubernatorial campaign, and generally make himself useful to both Serra and Kassab.
----------------- PSDB-PFL ALLIANCE -----------------
¶4. (U) Nunes confirmed that at the Sao Paulo state level the PSDB-PFL alliance remains strong, and that although the campaign has not yet settled on a name, he was almost certain that Serra's running mate would be from the PFL. (Note: The front-runner for the Lieutenant Governor nomination appears to be Guilherme Afif Domingos, who ran for President in 1989 and is currently the President of the Sao Paulo Associao Comercial (Chamber of Commerce). End Note.) Likewise, former Governor Alckmin would choose a "pefelista" to run for Vice President on his ticket, most likely someone from the Northeast to give the ticket regional balance and help Alckmin in a critical region where he is virtually unknown; the two names most commonly mentioned are Pernambuco Senator Jose Jorge and Rio Grande do Norte Senator Jose Agripino Maia. Some influential members of the PFL are reportedly pushing for the nomination of party President Jorge Bornhausen, but the candidacy of the Senator from the southern state of Santa Catarina would not make
SAO PAULO 00000400 002 OF 003
sense geographically.
----------------- SERRA AND ALCKMIN -----------------
¶5. (SBU) Poloff asked if Nunes had been surprised by the way Alckmin had contended for and ultimately won the PSDB presidential nomination (refs C-D). After a long pause, Nunes replied, "I was...He put Serra in a very difficult position." Nunes went on to explain that it was impossible for Serra to resign as Mayor to launch his presidential candidacy if he was fighting with Alckmin. Since Alckmin refused to step aside or accept a deal to end his own candidacy, Serra had no choice but to stay put. However, Alckmin's own resignation had opened up the gubernatorial option for Serra. Nunes was confident that Alckmin could overcome his 20-point deficit in the polls and run a strong race against President Lula, and very likely win. Poll results released April 7, meanwhile, showed that Serra's lead over possible rivals for the governorship had only widened.
--------------- THE PMDB FACTOR ---------------
¶6. (SBU) Nunes, who joined the PSDB in 1997 after many years in the Brazilian Democratic Movement Party (PMDB), thought the wild card in the Governor's race would be his former political mentor, state PMDB President and former Governor (1986-90) Orestes Quercia. Lula's Workers' Party (PT) would almost certainly run former Sao Paulo Mayor Marta Suplicy; her rival for the PT nomination, Senator Aloysio Mercadante, is very well known, state- and nation-wide, but he doesn't have a strong personal or political identity like Suplicy does and, for that matter Serra. (Nunes acknowledged that Serra's "strong identity" brought with it high negative ratings that hindered him in his unsuccessful quest for the presidential nomination.) And he was confident that Serra could defeat Suplicy handily, as he did in the 2004 Mayoral race. (Comment: When Charg visited Sao Paulo this past January and met with Marta Suplicy, she asserted that if a new Mayoral race were held then, she would beat Serra. However, post is unaware of any empirical evidence to support such a claim. Furthermore, while Nunes's prediction of a Suplicy primary victory is logical, it should be noted that President Lula favors his Senatorial ally Mercadante, and is reportedly trying to persuade Marta to withdraw. End Comment.)
¶7. (SBU) But Quercia, in Nunes's view, will wait until the last minute to decide what to do. He has let it be known that he doesn't really want to be Governor again, though he was leading in the polls until Serra entered the race. He would prefer to look after his many business interests. There has been much speculation among political pundits that Quercia is seeking an alliance with the PT at the state level, one which might include his candidacy for a Senate seat from Sao Paulo. However, all possible deals involving that Senate seat - and there are many under discussion -- run up against the fact that the incumbent, Eduardo Suplicy of the PT (Marta's ex-husband), apparently wants to run for re-election and is considered tough to beat. So Quercia is playing for time. He has reportedly also put out feelers to the PSDB, so far without any effect. 8. At the national level, Nunes said, the PMDB is unlikely to play a role in the presidential election. Rio de Janeiro ex-governor Anthony Garotinho, who won the party's "informal" primary (ref B), wants to run, but none of the party's leaders want him to be their standard-bearer, though they are trying hard to avoid alienating his solid bloc of evangelical supporters. Quercia recently proposed
SAO PAULO 00000400 003 OF 003
former President Itamar Franco as the PMDB presidential candidate, but this suggestion is impossible to take seriously. In addition, the Supreme Federal Tribunal (STF) recently ruled (ref B) that the Constitutional amendment passed by Congress eliminating the "verticalization" rule cannot take effect until the 2010 elections. With "verticalization" still in place, requiring that electoral alliances at the national level be replicated in races for governor and federal deputy, the PMDB will most likely avoid entangling national alliances in order to maintain maximum flexibility in the 15-18 gubernatorial races it plans to contest, as well as the innumerable Congressional races important to a party that wants to maintain the largest blocs in both the Chamber and the Senate.
---------------------- BIOGRAPHIC INFORMATION ----------------------
¶9. (SBU) Aloysio Nunes Ferreira has enjoyed an impressively varied and often eventful political career. A militant member of the Brazilian Communist Party (PCB) in his youth, he went into exile in France in 1968, returning in 1979 when the military dictatorship declared an amnesty for political offenses. Having joined the Brazilian Democratic Movement (MDB), the legal opposition to the dictatorship, in 1966, he participated in the 1982 founding of the PMDB as the successor organization to the MDB and worked for the restoration of democracy. After two terms as a Sao Paulo state legislator - during which time he was identified as a "quercista," a close ally and strong supporter of Orestes Quercia - he was elected Lieutenant Governor in 1990 and served in that position in the administration of PMDB Governor Luis Antonio Fleury Filho. Following a term (1995-99) in the federal Chamber, during which time he switched to the PSDB, Nunes was re-elected a Federal Deputy, but departed eight months later to serve (1999-2001) as Minister of State and Chief of the Secretariat-General of President Fernando Henrique Cardoso and subsequently (2001-02) as Minister of Justice. He has served in party leadership positions for both the PMDB and PSDB. Nunes holds degrees in political science and political economy from the University of Paris system and has taught at the University of Besancon (France) and the University of Sao Paulo. He is also a lawyer who has served as a Sao Paulo state public prosecutor. End Biographic Note.
¶10. (U) This cable was coordinated/cleared with Embassy Brasilia.
WOLFE