NID - CHILE: POLITICAL BATTLELINES DRAWN

Created: 2/27/1985

OCR scan of the original document, errors are possible

National Intelligence Daily

Wednesday

5

reclassified and Approved for Release0

pecial Analysis

Polilicalrawn

President Pinochet's recent cabinet changes and eatenalon ol lha Blate ol tlege relied hla determination to maintain

The ousieio lead rg modnrales interior Minister Jarpa and Finance Minister Escobarmarks Hvt and ol th* political opening that beganhot is now tuny responsive to Pinochets renewed insistence on adhering strictly to lhe constitutional transition limetabto. which callsresidential plebiscite9 end congressionalear later

Support for Pinochet

Pinochet's mlhiary colleagues, some ot wtiorri reportedly had misgivings aboul replacing Jarpa and extending the slate ol siege, now appear to back his recent actions.ew colerie ol conservative, devout Catholic advisors has ofncrgod around Pinochet reinlorclng his instinctive toughness |

The harshness ol Plnochot's recent moves, however, has weakened his support among (he traditional right and among many business and professional groups who want liberalization |backing lor the icg-me is nowrightwing political groups

Disorganized Moderates

The derrwcretlc opposition has been on the defensive smce Pinochet cracked down on its protest movement under tne state ot siege its attempt to revive the protest etfori in late November fizzled, and armed forces commanders later rejected an opposition plea to bypass Pinochet andialogue on the transition. Theol the disparate opposition parlies to uniteinimum program of opposition has weakened attempts to mobilize international opinion against Pinochet |

confirmed

Original document.

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