Cablegate: Macro-Region Referenda Fail - Decentralization

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

UNCLAS LIMA 004661

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PINR PE
SUBJECT: MACRO-REGION REFERENDA FAIL - DECENTRALIZATION
PROCESS TO BE RETHOUGHT

REF: A. LIMA 4650

B. LIMA 4634
C. LIMA 4633

1. With 90 percent of the ballots counted, the referenda to
form five macro-regions failed in 15 of Peru's 16
departments. Only in Arequipa did a majority of voters
support the proposal. (Note: Since the other departments
considering consolidation with Arequipa, Tacna and Puno,
voted the referendum down, they will not form a macro-region.
End Note.) The National Office for Electoral Processes
(ONPE) came out the only winner as their new team led by
Magdalena Chu demonstrated it could hold a large election
with minimal problems.

2. The decisive margin against forming macro regions
surprised observers. In none of the proposed macro regions
did the "yes" vote exceed 34 percent. Of all voters, only 24
percent voted in favor, 69 percent voted against, and 7
percent of the ballots were blank or null. (Note: With 90
percent of ballots counted, the "no" votes outweighed the
"yes" votes by such a high margin in 15 of the 16 departments
that the previous controversy over whether or not to count
blank and null ballots became moot -- Ref A. End note.) Even
Yehude Simon, the popular Regional President of Lambayeque
and a strong proponent of the macro region concept, could not
deliver his own department, where the "yes" vote garnered
only 19 percent.

3. Comment: The fallout from the failure of the referenda
remains to be seen. Undoubtedly, the biggest losers were the
National Decentralization Council and its President, Luis
Thais. They failed to come up with a campaign to educate the
public about the possible benefits of decentralization and
macro regions. Yehude Simon and other regional presidents
who staked a firm position in favor of the macro regions
could also lose. Given its landslide defeat, the GOP will
need to rethink its approach to decentralization and, most
important, how to better educate a skeptical public on this
vital issue. End Comment.
STRUBLE

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