Cable Viewer

Currently released so far... 12779 / 251,287

### Browse latest releases

2010/11 2010/12 2011/01 2011/02 2011/03 2011/04 2011/05
2010/11/28 2010/11/29 2010/11/30
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

### Browse by creation date

66 72 73 75 79 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 96 97 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10
1966/12
1972/02 1972/08
1973/04
1975/03
1979/08
1985/03 1985/05 1985/06
1986/05
1987/06
1988/01 1988/03 1988/07
1989/12
1990/01 1990/07 1990/08 1990/10
1991/05
1992/01 1992/03 1992/06 1992/09 1992/12
1993/01 1993/10
1994/12
1996/11
1997/06 1997/12
2000/05 2000/06 2000/09 2000/11
2001/02 2001/03 2001/06 2001/07 2001/09 2001/10 2001/11
2002/01 2002/02 2002/03 2002/04 2002/07 2002/08 2002/09 2002/11 2002/12
2003/01 2003/02 2003/03 2003/04 2003/05 2003/06 2003/07 2003/08 2003/09 2003/10 2003/11 2003/12
2004/01 2004/02 2004/03 2004/04 2004/05 2004/06 2004/07 2004/08 2004/09 2004/10 2004/11 2004/12
2005/01 2005/02 2005/03 2005/04 2005/05 2005/06 2005/07 2005/08 2005/09 2005/10 2005/11 2005/12
2006/01 2006/02 2006/03 2006/04 2006/05 2006/06 2006/07 2006/08 2006/09 2006/10 2006/11 2006/12
2007/01 2007/02 2007/03 2007/04 2007/05 2007/06 2007/07 2007/08 2007/09 2007/10 2007/11 2007/12
2008/01 2008/02 2008/03 2008/04 2008/05 2008/06 2008/07 2008/08 2008/09 2008/10 2008/11 2008/12
2009/01 2009/02 2009/03 2009/04 2009/05 2009/06 2009/07 2009/08 2009/09 2009/10 2009/11 2009/12
2010/01 2010/02

### Browse by origin

A B C D F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W Y Z
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 Freetown Consulate Fukuoka
Embassy Guatemala Embassy Gaborone Consulate Guayaquil Consulate Guadalajara
Embassy Helsinki Embassy Harare Embassy Hanoi Consulate Ho Chi Minh City Consulate Hermosillo Consulate Hamilton Consulate Hamburg Consulate Halifax
Iran RPO Dubai Embassy Islamabad Consulate Istanbul
Embassy Jakarta Consulate Jerusalem Consulate Jeddah
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 Ouagadougou Embassy Ottawa Embassy Oslo
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
Embassy Quito Consulate Quebec
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
Embassy Windhoek Embassy Wellington Embassy Warsaw
Embassy Yerevan Embassy Yaounde
Embassy Zagreb

### Browse by tag

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
AORC AFIN ASEC AR APER AMGT AEMR ADANA AF AY AMED AADP ARF AS AINF AG ACS AID ASEAN AU ABLD AM AJ AL AMCHAMS ADPM APECO APEC AE AECL ACAO ANET AGAO ATRN ALOW ACOA AA AFFAIRS AND APCS ADCO AORG ABUD AROC AO AODE ACABQ AX AMEX AFGHANISTAN AZ ASUP ARM AQ ATFN AMBASSADOR ACBAQ AFSI AFSN AC ASIG AUC ASEX AER AVERY AGRICULTURE ASCH AFU AMG ATPDEA ASECKFRDCVISKIRFPHUMSMIGEG AORL ADM AN AIT AGR AGMT
BA BR BM BL BO BD BEXP BU BK BTIO BG BT BP BB BY BH BX BC BILAT BRUSSELS BIDEN BE BF BBSR BMGT BWC BN BTIU
CO CLINTON CS CH CU CVIS CE CI CA CASC CAC CMGT CPAS CL CIDA CONS CR CWC CIC CW CY CJAN CG CBW CDG CN CT CD CACS CV CARSON CM CAPC COPUOS CHR CTR CBSA CDC CONDOLEEZZA CICTE CYPRUS COUNTER COUNTRY CODEL CBE CFED COM CKGR CVR COUNTERTERRORISM CITEL CLEARANCE COE CARICOM CB CSW CITT CACM CDB CF CJUS CTM CAN CLMT CBC CIA CNARC CIS CROS CEUDA
DA DEA DHS DAO DCM DE DR DJ DOD DOMESTIC DO DK DPRK DEPT DISENGAGEMENT DOE DTRA DS DEFENSE DEAX
EUN EWWT ETTC EFIN ECON ETRD EG EAID ENRG ECPS EAIR EIND EINV EPET EMIN EZ ECIN EN EUR EFIS ELAB EAGR EXIM EU EPA EC ELTN ER ET EUREM EXTERNAL EFTA ENIV ETRO ETRDECONWTOCS EFINECONCS EI EINT ERNG ES ECUN EK EUMEM ENERG ELECTIONS ECONOMY ECA ENGR ETRC ENVI ETRDEINVECINPGOVCS ELN EINVEFIN ETC ENVR EAP EINN ECONOMIC EXBS ENGY ECONOMICS EIAR EINDETRD ECONEFIN EURN EDU ETRDEINVTINTCS ECIP EFIM EAIDS EREL EINVETC ECONCS ETRA ESA EAIG EUC ERD ETRN EINVECONSENVCSJA EEPET EUNCH ESENV ENNP ECINECONCS
FI FTAA FJ FTA FR FOR FBI FOREIGN FDA FM FMLN FAO FISO FAC FREEDOM FINANCE FARC FINR FOI FO FAS
GG GE GR GM GAERC GT GOI GV GY GA GH GCC GANGS GTIP GOV GTMO GL GF GZ GAZA GLOBAL GERARD
HILLARY HA HR HO HU HSTC HK HI HURI HUMAN HYMPSK HEBRON HUMOR
IMO IZ IR IAEA IT IS IN ICJ IDP ILO IV ICTR IC IWC ICRC ITRA ICAO IO ICTY ITU IBRD IAHRC IRC ID IEFIN IQ IMF IRAQI ITALY ISRAELI IPR IIP INMARSAT ITPGOV ITALIAN INTERNAL IRS IA INTERPOL IEA INR INRB ISRAEL IZPREL IRAJ ILC IF ITPHUM IL IACI INDO IDA ISLAMISTS IGAD ITF INRA INRO IBET INTELSAT
JO JA JOHN JP JOHNNIE JAMES JUS JOSEPH JM
KSCA KDEM KV KNNP KCOR KISL KPAO KJUS KIPR KE KOMC KVPR KHLS KCRM KPAL KAWC KUNR KPKO KWMN KWBG KFSC KIRF KZ KPLS KS KN KGHG KSTC KTIA KMFO KID KTIP KSEP KFRD KNAR KTFN KTEX KFLU KCFE KFLO KMDR KMIG KSUM KRVC KBCT KO KVIR KIDE KMPI KOLY KIRC KHDP KSAF KGIT KBIO KBTR KGIC KWMM KPRV KSTH KHSA KPOA KU KR KVRP KENV KPRP KICC KSPR KG KAWK KDRG KTBT KNSD KX KNEI KMCA KCRS KCIP KCRCM KBTS KSEO KFRDCVISCMGTCASCKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KACT KFIN KOCI KNUP KTDB KPAONZ KNUC KNNPMNUC KERG KSCI KTLA KHIV KCSY KTRD KWAC KMRS KNPP KJUST KPWR KCOM KAID KCMR KTER KRCM KCFC KSAC KCHG KREL KFTFN KLIG KDEMAF KRAD KGCC KICA KHUM KSEC KPIN KESS KDEV KWWMN KOM KWNM KRFD KFRDKIRFCVISCMGTKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KRGY KREC KIFR KWMNCS KPAK KOMS KRIM KDDG KMOC KCGC KPAI
LE LY LG LH LU LI LA LOG LTTE LAB LO LT LABOR
MARR MTCRE MNUC MOPS MASS MX MCAP MW MY MD MO MARAD MG MR MAS MK MEDIA MU ML MC MTCR MAPP MZ MIL MPOS MP MA MOPPS MTS MLS MILI MAR MEPN MEPI MASC MEETINGS MERCOSUR MT MCC MIK MAPS MV MILITARY MI MDC MEPP MASSMNUC MUCN MQADHAFI MTRE MRCRE MPS
NATO NPT NO NU NI NZ NV NSF NASA NP NPG NL NGO NS NR NK NA NG NSG NEW NE NSSP NATIONAL NDP NIPP NZUS NH NAFTA NC NRR NT NAR NATOPREL NSC NPA NSFO NW NORAD
OVIP OAS OPDC OSCE OPIC OECD OEXC OTRA OIIP OPRC ODIP OCS OPAD OIC OVP OREP OSCI OFDP OPCW OHUM OFFICIALS OIE OTR OMIG OSAC OBSP OFDA ON OCII OES
PREL PTER PHSA PHUM PGOV PARM PINR PBTS PINS PE PM PK PREF PO PSEPC PA POSTS PAS POL PDOV PL PRAM PROV POLITICS POLICY PCI PAHO PHUMPGOV POV PG PREO PAO PMIL PREFA PSI POLITICAL PROP PAIGH PALESTINIAN PARMS PROG PBIO PTERE PRGOV PORG PP PS PGOF PKFK PSOE PEPR PPA PINT PMAR PRELP PNG PFOR PUNE PGOVLO PHUMBA PNR POLINT PNAT PGOVE PHALANAGE PARTY PDEM PECON PAK PGOC PY PLN PHUH PF PHUS PTBS PU PARTIES PCUL PGGV PSA PGOVSMIGKCRMKWMNPHUMCVISKFRDCA PGIV PHUMPREL POGOV PEL PINL PBT PINF PRL
QA
RU RS RW RSO ROOD RO RP RM REACTION REGION ROBERT RCMP RICE RSP RF RELATIONS RIGHTS RIGHTSPOLMIL RUPREL RFE REPORT
SNAR SNARCS SZ SY SENV SOCI SA SEVN SCUL SW SO SR SPCE SARS SMIG SNARN SU SP SI SNARIZ SYR SIPRS SG SWE SL SAARC SF SEN SCRS SC STEINBERG SYRIA SENVKGHG SN SAN ST SIPDIS SSA SPCVIS SOFA SANC SHI SHUM SK SH
TSPA TRGY TU TPHY THPY TBIO TD TT TSPL TW TNGD TIP TZ TS TF TN TL TV TX TH TC TI TK TERRORISM TO TRSY TURKEY TINT TP TFIN TAGS TR TBID
UN UNGA UK UNMIK UNSC UNHRC UNAUS USTR US UNEP UP UY UZ UNESCO USUN UNHCR UNO UV UG USNC UNCHR USOAS UNCND USEU USPS USAID UE UNVIE UAE UNDP UNODC UNCHS UNFICYP UNDESCO UNC UNPUOS UNDC UNICEF UNCHC UNCSD UNFCYP UNIDROIT
VZ VE VT VM VN VTIZ VTPREL VTEG VAT VC VI
WHO WTRO WI WMD WIPO WBG WTO WS WZ WWARD WHA WITH WTRQ WEU WMO WA WHTI WFP WB
XF XA XW XB XU XV XL XG XK XM XS XR XT XY XX XE XZ XH XD XC XQ XI XTAG
YI YM YMCS YE
ZI ZP ZU ZR ZEALAND ZO ZL ZOELLICK ZF ZB ZJ ZN ZA ZK ZANU

### Browse by classification

CONFIDENTIAL CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN SECRET SECRET//NOFORN UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY

### Community resources

Follow us on Twitter Check our Reddit Twitter this Digg this page Contact us on IRC

courage is contagious

### Viewing cable 06BUENOSAIRES1732, K VERGUENZA: KIRCHNER-CONTROLLED CONGRESS PASSES

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.

To understand the justification used for the classification of each cable, please use this WikiSource article as reference.
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. #06BUENOSAIRES1732.

Reference ID | Created | Released | Classification | Origin
--- | --- | --- | --- | ---
06BUENOSAIRES1732 | 2006-08-03 18:53 | 2011-03-13 07:00 | CONFIDENTIAL | Embassy Buenos Aires
Appears in these articles: http://www.lanacion.com.ar/1357063-eeuu-veia-una-oposicion-cercana-a-la-irrelevancia

`

    VZCZCXRO9877
    PP RUEHCD RUEHGA RUEHGD RUEHHA RUEHHO RUEHMC RUEHQU RUEHTM RUEHVC
    DE RUEHBU #1732/01 2151853
    ZNY CCCCC ZZH
    P 031853Z AUG 06
    FM AMEMBASSY BUENOS AIRES
    TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 5441
    INFO RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC PRIORITY
    RUEKJCS/CJCS WASHDC PRIORITY
    RUEHNA/DEA WASHDC PRIORITY
    RUEAWJA/DEPT OF JUSTICE WASHDC PRIORITY
    RUEHC/DEPT OF LABOR WASHDC PRIORITY
    RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHDC PRIORITY
    RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY
    RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC PRIORITY
    RUCNMRC/WESTERN HEMISPHERIC AFFAIRS DIPL POSTS
    RUEHMD/AMEMBASSY MADRID 1681

` `

    C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BUENOS AIRES 001732

    SIPDIS

    SIPDIS

    STATE FOR WHA TOM SHANNON, JOHN MAISTO, AND CHARLES SHAPIRO
    NSC FOR DAN FISK
    TREASURY FOR DAS NANCY LEE
    USCINCSO FOR POLAD

    E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/03/2016
    TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREL AR
    SUBJECT: K VERGUENZA: KIRCHNER-CONTROLLED CONGRESS PASSES
    SUPERPODERES BILL

    REF: A. BUENOS AIRES 01594

         ¶B. BUENOS AIRES 00293

    Classified By: CDA, a.i., Michael Matera, Reasons 1.4(b) and (d)

    ¶1.  (SBU) SUMMARY: On August 2, the Lower House of the
    Argentine Congress approved a controversial bill granting the
    Casa Rosada permanent special powers to modify the federal
    budget without the approval of Congress.  The bill passed the
    Senate three weeks earlier.  Congress authorized these
    special budgetary powers on a year-by-year basis during the
    economic crisis and its aftermath between 2001 and 2005, but
    the new bill would make these powers permanent.  Political
    opposition leaders strongly opposed the bill, but with the
    help of the ex-Duhaldista bloc and defecting Radical Civic
    Union (UCR) members, Kirchner's supporters easily won the
    vote.  END SUMMARY.

    ¶2. (SBU) On August 2, the Lower House of the Argentine
    Congress approved a controversial bill granting the Casa
    Rosada permanent special powers to modify the federal budget
    without the approval of Congress.  The bill passed the Senate
    three weeks earlier.  The new law specifically will permit
    Cabinet Chief Alberto Fernandez to move funds around within
    five key areas of the budget: government administration,
    security and defense (with the exception of the national
    intelligence service SIDE), social services, economic
    services, and public debt interest.  Furthermore, the Cabinet
    Chief will be able to alter the percentage of the budget
    devoted to current expenditures and capital investments.

    ¶3.  (SBU) Congress authorized these special budgetary powers
    on a year-by-year basis during the economic crisis and its
    aftermath between 2001 and 2005, but the new bill would make
    these powers permanent.  The Casa Rosada did not request the
    special budgetary powers in the 2006 budget, approved before
    Kirchner effectively won control of Congress in the October
    2005 legislative elections, because of opposition in
    Congress.  (See Reftel A for more on Kirchner's recent
    actions in Congress.)

    ¶4.  (SBU) Leaders from the political opposition strongly
    opposed the bill, but with the help of the ex-Duhaldista bloc
    and defecting UCR members, Kirchner's supporters easily won
    the vote.  President Kirchner argued that the special powers
    are ""necessary instruments to be able to govern and carry
    Argentina forward.""  Kirchner's allies in Congress criticized
    UCR congressmen opposed to the current bill that voted in
    2001 to grant then Minister of the Economy Domingo Cavallo,
    part of a UCR-led government, these same powers.  (Note:
    Cristina Kirchner, then a Lower House Member from Santa Cruz,
    vehemently opposed the granting of special budgetary powers
    to Minister Cavallo in 2001.  End Note.)  UCR President
    Roberto Iglesias countered, ""It would be irrational to think
    that rules in force during a moment of hyperinflation would
    be applied today, when there is a surplus.""  Affirmation for
    an Egalitarian Republic (ARI) expressed her opposition in
    stronger terms, arguing that the bill represented, ""the death
    of the Republic.""  ARI and Mauricio Macri's Republican
    Proposal (PRO) are considering taking legal action against
    the bill, but legal consultants argue that the chances of a
    successful legal challenge are remote.

    -------
    COMMENT
    -------

    ¶5.  (C) Together with the recently passed law that
    legitimates the President's arbitrary use of presidential
    decrees, Kirchner has essentially stripped the Argentine
    Congress of its control over the budget.  Kirchner's
    additional powers will undoubtedly be useful next year during
    the presidential election campaign.  Kirchner's budgetary
    control and other recent actions, such as the Council of
    Magistrates reform that strengthened the Casa Rosada's
    control over the judiciary (See Reftel B), have brought
    presidential authority in Argentina to its highest level

    BUENOS AIR 00001732  002 OF 002

    since the return of democracy in 1983.  All hope that
    Kirchner would pursue more moderate policies after winning
    the mandate in last year's congressional elections that was
    denied him when former President Carlos Menem dropped out of
    the second round presidential race in 2003 is gone.

    ¶6.  (C) However, Kirchner is not the only one to blame for
    the poor condition of Argentina's institutional democracy, as
    the opposition once again demonstrated its disunity and
    complete lack of power.  Not only did several members of the
    opposition UCR vote for the bill, but unlike during the
    debate over the Council of Magistrates reform, the opposition
    leaders could not even manage to organize a group photo-op.
    Both ARI and PRO leaders talked about taking the issue to the
    courts, but could not agree on a joint legal effort.  The
    opposition will need to work more closely together in order
    to prevent further erosion of Argentina's democratic
    institutions and avoid their relegation to political
    irrelevance.  END COMMENT.

    MATERA

`