

Currently released so far... 12900 / 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
2011/05/20
2011/05/21
2011/05/22
2011/05/23
2011/05/24
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
Consulate Karachi
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
AE
ASEC
AS
AR
AMGT
AFIN
AORC
AU
AG
AF
APER
ABLD
ADCO
ABUD
AM
AID
AJ
AEMR
AMED
AL
ASUP
AN
AIT
ACOA
ANET
ASIG
AA
AGMT
AINF
AFFAIRS
ADANA
AY
AADP
ARF
ACS
AGR
AMCHAMS
AECL
AUC
APEC
APECO
AFGHANISTAN
ACAO
ASEAN
ADM
AGAO
AND
ADPM
ATRN
ALOW
AROC
APCS
AORG
AO
AODE
ACABQ
AX
AMEX
AZ
ARM
AQ
ATFN
AMBASSADOR
ACBAQ
AFSI
AFSN
AC
ASEX
AER
AVERY
AGRICULTURE
ASCH
AFU
AMG
ATPDEA
ASECKFRDCVISKIRFPHUMSMIGEG
AORL
BR
BO
BA
BM
BL
BH
BK
BEXP
BILAT
BTIO
BF
BU
BD
BY
BE
BG
BB
BBSR
BT
BRUSSELS
BP
BX
BC
BIDEN
BMGT
BWC
BN
BTIU
CA
CS
CO
CD
CR
CPAS
CDG
CI
CDC
CBW
CU
CVIS
CE
CONS
CH
CMGT
CASC
CY
CW
CG
CJAN
CIDA
CODEL
CWC
CIA
CBSA
CEUDA
CFED
CLINTON
CAC
CL
CACS
CIC
CHR
CAPC
CM
CT
CTR
COM
CROS
CN
COPUOS
CV
CF
CARSON
CONDOLEEZZA
CICTE
CYPRUS
COUNTER
COUNTRY
CBE
CKGR
CVR
COUNTERTERRORISM
CITEL
CLEARANCE
COE
CARICOM
CB
CSW
CITT
CACM
CDB
CJUS
CTM
CAN
CLMT
CBC
CNARC
CIS
EFIN
ECON
ETRD
EAID
EC
EU
EUN
EINV
EG
ETTC
EIND
ELAB
EAGR
ECIN
EINT
ENRG
EFIS
ELTN
EAIR
EPET
EZ
ET
ENERG
ECPS
EWWT
EI
ETRN
EINVECONSENVCSJA
EEPET
EUNCH
ER
ES
EN
EMIN
ESENV
ENNP
ENGR
ETRDEINVECINPGOVCS
ENVI
ECINECONCS
ELN
EFTA
ELECTIONS
ENVR
EXTERNAL
ENIV
ESA
EPA
ETRO
ETRDECONWTOCS
EUR
ECUN
EXIM
EK
EUREM
ECONOMY
EUMEM
ERNG
EFINECONCS
EAIDS
ECA
ETRC
EINVEFIN
ETC
EAP
EINN
ECONOMIC
EXBS
ENGY
ECONOMICS
EIAR
EINDETRD
ECONEFIN
EURN
EDU
ETRDEINVTINTCS
ECIP
EFIM
EREL
EINVETC
ECONCS
ETRA
EAIG
EUC
ERD
IQ
IR
IS
IN
IA
IC
IZ
ICRC
ID
IDA
IT
IO
IAEA
ICJ
ICAO
IV
IBRD
IMF
IAHRC
IWC
ILO
ISLAMISTS
IGAD
ILC
ITU
ITF
INRA
INRO
ICTY
INRB
ITALY
IBET
IL
INTELSAT
ISRAELI
IMO
IDP
ICTR
ITRA
IRC
IRAQI
IEFIN
IPR
IIP
INMARSAT
ITPGOV
ITALIAN
INTERNAL
IRS
INTERPOL
IEA
INR
ISRAEL
IZPREL
IRAJ
IF
ITPHUM
IACI
INDO
KPAO
KMDR
KCOR
KNNP
KJUS
KCRM
KDEM
KVPR
KTFN
KPRP
KTIP
KSCA
KSUM
KTEX
KIDE
KIRF
KV
KTIA
KN
KG
KFRD
KWMN
KUNR
KISL
KU
KGHG
KPKO
KOMS
KPAL
KIPR
KMCA
KOMC
KRVC
KSEP
KAWC
KOLY
KWBG
KACT
KFLO
KHIV
KZ
KGIC
KBCT
KDRG
KBTR
KCFE
KE
KHLS
KMPI
KAWK
KPWR
KIRC
KRAD
KFRDCVISCMGTCASCKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG
KFLU
KPLS
KRIM
KSTH
KDDG
KPRV
KICC
KS
KSAF
KBIO
KREC
KCGC
KCIP
KTDB
KWAC
KPAI
KFRDKIRFCVISCMGTKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG
KFSC
KSTC
KMFO
KID
KNAR
KMIG
KVRP
KNEI
KGIT
KNSD
KHDP
KSAC
KWMM
KR
KCOM
KAID
KENV
KVIR
KHSA
KO
KCRS
KPOA
KTER
KFIN
KSPR
KTBT
KX
KCMR
KMOC
KCRCM
KBTS
KSEO
KOCI
KNUP
KPAONZ
KNUC
KNNPMNUC
KERG
KSCI
KTLA
KCSY
KTRD
KMRS
KNPP
KJUST
KRCM
KCFC
KCHG
KREL
KFTFN
KLIG
KDEMAF
KGCC
KICA
KHUM
KSEC
KPIN
KESS
KDEV
KPIR
KWWMN
KOM
KWNM
KRFD
KRGY
KIFR
KWMNCS
KPAK
MARR
MOPS
MUCN
MCAP
MNUC
MEPP
MTCRE
MASS
MO
MIL
MX
MAS
MEDIA
MAR
MI
MQADHAFI
MPOS
MTCR
MK
MG
MA
MY
MU
ML
MPS
MW
MD
MARAD
MC
MR
MT
MTRE
MASC
MRCRE
MAPP
MZ
MP
MOPPS
MTS
MLS
MILI
MEPN
MEPI
MEETINGS
MERCOSUR
MCC
MIK
MAPS
MV
MILITARY
MDC
MASSMNUC
NI
NZ
NL
NO
NPT
NATO
NS
NU
NP
NPA
NSFO
NDP
NT
NW
NASA
NSG
NE
NORAD
NAFTA
NG
NATIONAL
NSSP
NV
NSF
NK
NA
NEW
NPG
NR
NGO
NIPP
NZUS
NH
NC
NRR
NAR
NATOPREL
NSC
OIIP
OPRC
OTRA
OEXC
OREP
OSCE
OVIP
OPAD
OBSP
OECD
OFFICIALS
OAS
OPDC
ODIP
OPCW
OES
OFDP
OPIC
OCS
OIC
OHUM
OSCI
OVP
ODC
OIE
OTR
OMIG
OSAC
OFDA
ON
OCII
PREL
PINR
PGOV
PARM
PE
PTER
PHUM
PO
PINS
PREF
PK
PM
POL
PBTS
PNAT
PHSA
PAS
PA
PL
PGIV
PHUMPREL
POGOV
PAK
PEL
PROP
PP
PINL
PBT
PTBS
PG
PINF
PRL
PALESTINIAN
PSEPC
POSTS
PAHO
PHUMPGOV
PGOC
PNR
PREFA
PMIL
POLITICS
POLICY
PROV
PBIO
PREO
PAO
PDOV
PGOF
POV
PCI
PRAM
PSI
POLITICAL
PAIGH
PJUS
PARMS
PROG
PTERE
PRGOV
PORG
PS
PKFK
PSOE
PEPR
PPA
PINT
PMAR
PRELP
PNG
PFOR
PUNE
PGOVLO
PHUMBA
POLINT
PGOVE
PHALANAGE
PARTY
PDEM
PECON
PY
PLN
PHUH
PF
PHUS
PU
PARTIES
PCUL
PGGV
PSA
PGOVSMIGKCRMKWMNPHUMCVISKFRDCA
RU
RS
REGION
REACTION
REPORT
RO
RW
RCMP
RSO
RP
RM
ROOD
RFE
RICE
ROBERT
RSP
RF
RELATIONS
RIGHTS
RIGHTSPOLMIL
RUPREL
SENV
SY
SNAR
SCUL
SP
SF
SW
SOCI
SU
SMIG
SO
SA
SR
SZ
SI
SC
SEVN
SN
STEINBERG
SK
SH
SNARCS
SPCE
SARS
SNARN
SG
SL
SYRIA
SIPRS
SAARC
SNARIZ
SWE
SYR
SEN
SCRS
SAN
ST
SIPDIS
SSA
SPCVIS
SOFA
SENVKGHG
SANC
SHI
SHUM
TU
TSPA
TBIO
TS
TRGY
TINT
TPHY
TN
TW
TH
TZ
TSPL
TP
TBID
TI
TF
TD
TT
TNGD
TL
TC
THPY
TIP
TX
TV
TK
TERRORISM
TO
TRSY
TURKEY
TFIN
TAGS
TR
UK
UNSC
UNGA
UNESCO
UNHRC
UP
UN
USTR
US
UNDC
UY
UNICEF
UNDP
UNMIK
UNAUS
UNCHC
UNCSD
USOAS
UNFCYP
UG
UNIDROIT
UNO
UV
UNHCR
UNEP
USEU
UZ
UNCND
USUN
UNCHR
USNC
USPS
USAID
UE
UNVIE
UAE
UNODC
UNCHS
UNFICYP
UNDESCO
UNC
UNPUOS
Browse by classification
Community resources
courage is contagious
Viewing cable 10SANJOSE23, CHINCHILLA WINS: COSTA RICANS CHOOSE CONTINUITY
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. #10SANJOSE23.
VZCZCXRO9066
RR RUEHAO RUEHHO RUEHNG RUEHRS
DE RUEHSJ #0023/01 0391614
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
R 081613Z FEB 10
FM AMEMBASSY SAN JOSE
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0354
INFO WESTERN HEMISPHERIC AFFAIRS DIPL POSTS
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC
RHMFISS/HQ USSOUTHCOM MIAMI FL
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 04 SAN JOSE 000023
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR WHA/CEN
AMEMBASSY BRIDGETOWN PASS TO AMEMBASSY GRENADA
AMEMBASSY OTTAWA PASS TO AMCONSUL QUEBEC
AMEMBASSY BRASILIA PASS TO AMCONSUL RECIFE
E.O. 12958: DECL: 2015/02/09
TAGS: PGOV KDEM PREL PINR PLN CS CH CU VE KWMN
SUBJECT: CHINCHILLA WINS: COSTA RICANS CHOOSE CONTINUITY
REF: 10 SAN JOSE 110; 09 SAN JOSE 815; 10 SAN JOSE 19; 10 SAN JOSE 3
CLASSIFIED BY: Peter Brennan, Charge d'Affaires; REASON: 1.4(D)
¶1. (SBU) Summary: Laura Chinchilla won Costa Rica's February 7
presidential election, promising continuity and consolidation of
the Arias Administration's agenda. The USG's top notch
collaboration with Costa Rica will continue with the new
government, as Chinchilla's policy goals coincide with ours and she
has strong personal ties to the U.S. The President-elect aims to
improve citizen security - her top priority - and take concrete
steps toward Costa Rica's ambitious environmental and energy goals.
She will face the task of addressing domestic obstacles to trade
and investment. Chinchilla's National Liberation Party (PLN) won a
plurality in the Legislative Assembly, but she will be challenged
to put together a working coalition in this fragmented body. The
USG should encourage Chinchilla to continue Costa Rica's
constructive engagement on global issues; otherwise, we can expect
the GOCR to diminish its activism on climate change, human rights,
disarmament, etc. End Summary.
A Decisive Victory
¶2. (SBU) Laura Chinchilla handily won Sunday's presidential
election with just under 47 percent of the vote, beating by more
than 20 points Otton Solis from the Citizen Action Party (PAC) and
Otto Guevara from the Libertarian Party (ML). (They garnered 25
and 21 percent, respectively.) Chinchilla won almost 6 percentage
points more than Oscar Arias did in 2006, showing that the
candidate charged with being his "puppet" could surpass her mentor
and earn her own clear mandate. Chinchilla's victory was
dramatically more decisive than that of Arias four years ago, when
he defeated Solis by only one percent of the vote, as the bulk of
the opposition this year divided between PAC and ML.
¶3. (SBU) ML's rise, at the expense of PAC, came more as a result of
Guevara's populist campaign focused on security, rather than a
shift to the right on the part of Costa Rican voters. Luis Fishman
from the Social Christian Unity Party (PUSC), which held the
presidency from 1998-2006, earned only 4 percent of the vote;
however, PUSC maintained and even added to their numbers in the
Assembly. Almost 70 percent of the electorate voted in the
elections, a 4 point rise from the historic low turnout of 2006,
and the first rise in voter participation in twelve years.
Observers from the embassy, the Organization of American States and
a U.S. Federal Elections Commissioner found the elections to be
free and fair.
Madame President
¶4. (SBU) In electing Chinchilla, Costa Ricans voted for continuity
and consolidation of President Arias' agenda. Arias has been
criticized for setting lofty goals without putting in place the
mechanics to reach them (e.g. achieving carbon neutrality by 2021).
In contrast, we expect Chinchilla to eschew grand new
pronouncements and put her nose to the grindstone to move the
agenda forward. Chinchilla brings a significant career in public
service to the office, including stints as Legislative
Assemblywoman, Minister of Public Security, and President Oscar
Arias' former Vice President (she resigned upon declaring herself a
candidate for the presidency). Though she does not project the
public charisma of most politicians-a fact reflected in her
often-lackluster campaign-she is an intelligent and competent
technocrat who has surrounded herself with experienced advisors.
She will be Costa Rica's first female president.
Strong Relationship with U.S.
SAN JOSE 00000023 002 OF 004
¶5. (SBU) The USG's top notch collaboration with Costa Rica will
continue under the new administration. Chinchilla's policy goals
coincide with ours, and she has strong personal ties to the U.S.,
having earned a Masters in Public Policy at Georgetown on a USAID
scholarship and worked on judicial reform in Latin America as a
USAID contractor in the late 1990s. Chinchilla told us during the
campaign that she would seek U.S. assistance in her efforts to
strengthen citizen security, particularly in improving the
recruitment and training of uniformed police officers. One of her
close advisers told us late last year that Chinchilla would be
interested in working on a women's issues agenda with Secretary
Clinton.
Chinchilla's Priorities
¶6. (SBU) Chinchilla has said she will make improving citizen
security her top priority. Security issues took center stage
during the campaign, as Guevara and the ML relentlessly attacked
the Arias administration and Chinchilla for their failure to
effectively deal with a rise in crime and drug trafficking over the
past four years. Though the government almost doubled the public
security budget over the past two years (and saw a small drop in
some crime stats from 2008 to 2009), Chinchilla has promised to add
an additional $100 million per year for police funding. Among
other initiatives, she plans to establish a senior position focused
on combating organized crime and narcotics, expand gang prevention
programs, and open a new police academy. Chinchilla comes into
office with a strong background on citizen security issues; in
addition to her experience as Vice Minister and Minister of Public
Security, she has written a number of papers on police reform and
justice administration. She has attended security seminars in the
U.S., including a National Security Plan development seminar run by
the Center for Hemispheric Studies in 2007.
¶7. (SBU) As part of her effort to promote jobs, Chinchilla will
work to consolidate gains of the Arias administration on economic
issues. Arias' team negotiated a number of free trade agreements
(FTAs), including CAFTA-DR and soon to be concluded FTAs with
Singapore, China and the European Union. However, business leaders
charge that hyper-bureaucracy and inadequate training of government
officials interfere with their ability to take advantage of these
trade opportunities. Chinchilla will face the task of addressing
such obstacles to trade and investment. Another major hindrance to
trade and investment is Costa Rica's deteriorated physical
infrastructure. Aware that the government has insufficient
resources and capacity to meet these needs, Chinchilla's
administration will move forward with concessioning out the
Limon/Moin port complex (Ref A) and encouraging other
public-private partnerships in infrastructure.
¶8. (SBU) Chinchilla also has promised to focus on environmental
issues, specifically on achieving environmental sustainability and
advancing a clean energy policy. The Arias administration has
failed to turn much of its rhetoric on the environment into action
(such as Costa Rica becoming carbon neutral by 2021), and
Chinchilla recognizes that it falls to her administration to
implement concrete measures to achieve such goals. An early
challenge on this path will be the passage through the Legislative
Assembly of a long-overdue energy bill, which Chinchilla should use
to reform the energy sector to effectively promote clean energy.
Challenges in the Legislature and in her Party
¶9. (SBU) Chinchilla's first task is trying to put together a
working coalition within the Assembly that can effectively conduct
business. Chinchilla's administration will have to work with a
Legislative Assembly that is more divided than at any point in
SAN JOSE 00000023 003 OF 004
Costa Rican history. Though final results for the Legislative
Assembly have yet to be released, the PLN won a plurality,
capturing at least 23 of 57 Assembly seats (NOTE: there remain a
small number of seats in play as elections officials finish
tabulating all votes cast). PAC came in second with at least at
least 10 seats, followed closely by ML with 9, PUSC with 6 and
Accessibility Without Exclusion Party (PASE), which focuses on the
rights of the disabled and appealed to poorer voters, with 4 seats.
The remaining seats were split among a number of smaller parties.
¶10. (SBU) It will require Chinchilla's leadership to turn the
Assembly, which has been decidedly less than productive over the
past four years, into an effective legislative body. The ML and PAC
in particular have been difficult for the PLN to work with in the
past, a fact which is unlikely to change now, as each party tries
to establish itself as the voice of the opposition. Yet with 13
votes split among PUSC, PASE and other smaller parties, the PLN has
more options for potential partners than in years past. However
Chinchilla, who had a reputation for being somewhat aloof during
her term in the Assembly, will now face the challenge of uniting
disparate interests to form some sort of consensus on important
legislative issues.
¶11. (SBU) Another challenge for Chinchilla could come from within
her own party, as many PLN Assemblymen and party officials owe
their allegiance to President Arias. Oscar Arias still wields
tremendous power within the PLN, and the worst kept secret in Costa
Rica is that his brother, Rodrigo, has designs on the presidency in
¶2014. Chinchilla might at some point either have to accommodate
or stand up to Arias, but for now they generally espouse the same
goals for the country and ideas on how to achieve them.
Foreign Policy
¶12. (C) Chinchilla has yet to fully espouse her foreign policy
goals, as the presidential campaign almost exclusively focused on
domestic issues. In conversation with us in October, she seemed to
have given little thought to foreign affairs beyond Costa Rica's
relationship with the U.S. Senior Ministry of Foreign Affairs
officials told us during the campaign that all of the candidates
seemed to expect that foreign policy would run on "automatic
pilot". We expect Chinchilla to defer to her advisors, possibly
including President Arias, on foreign policy issues.
¶13. (C) We do not anticipate Chinchilla will reverse - or intensify
- any of Arias' foreign policy initiatives, such as opening
diplomatic relations (albeit very cool) with Cuba or recognizing
the "State of Palestine". Relations with Venezuela are likely to
remain distant and the rapport with Nicaragua frigid. While a
Chinchilla administration is unlikely to continue courting China
actively, as did President Arias, it probably will continue
initiatives that are underway (e.g., concluding/implementing the
free trade agreement). In addition, it may well respond favorably
to Chinese offers of assistance and/or sweet commercial deals,
similar to Costa Rica's January 2009 award of a USD 235 million 3G
telecommunications deal to Chinese firm Huawei. Foreign Ministry
colleagues tell us that the Funes Administration in El Salvador is
exploring opportunities to learn from Costa Rica's experience in a
number of areas of governance; we imagine a Chinchilla
administration would be receptive to such collaboration. Relations
with Panama and Colombia almost certainly will remain strong.
¶14. (C) Costa Rica's potentially diminished attention to
international issues would be a loss for the U.S., since the
country has been an articulate advocate of constructive positions
on matters such as climate change, human rights, and disarmament.
This embassy will encourage Chinchilla and her administration to
continue - and increase - Costa Rica's engagement on these and
SAN JOSE 00000023 004 OF 004
other issues where it can provide leadership. (Costa Rica is
currently a candidate for a seat on the UN Human Rights Council,
where it could serve as a positive voice and a valuable U.S. ally.)
We urge Washington officials to deliver the same message to
Chinchilla and her team as opportunities arise.
BRENNAN