HONDURAN MINISTER OF CULTURE RESIGNS; CITES

C O N F I D E N T I A L TEGUCIGALPA 000056

SIPDIS

STATE FOR WHA/CEN AND INR/B

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/09/2014
TAGS: PGOV PINR SCUL HO
SUBJECT: HONDURAN MINISTER OF CULTURE RESIGNS; CITES
ON-GOING DISPUTE WITH FIRST LADY

REF: 03 TEGUCIGALPA 1880

Classified By: Political Counselor Francisco Palmieri;
reasons 1.4 (B) and (D).


1. (U) On January 6, Honduran Minister of Culture Mireya
Batres (former fiancee of Honduran President Ricardo Maduro)
publicly announced her resignation. Batres' resignation
comes as no surprise, as her tense relationship with First
Lady Aguas Ocana has flared publicly on more than one
occasion. It is unclear at this point who will be selected
to replace Batres; and there are rumors that her ministry
will be subsumed into the Ministry of Education. Batres'
father, a presidential advisor, had resigned earlier due to
the First Lady's behavior (reftel).


2. (U) In a press conference on January 7, Batres indicated
that "when personal and professional situations interfere
with one another, then it is time to go." Apparently, Batres
made her final decision to resign after National Security
Advisor (and de facto Chief of Staff) Ramon Medina Luna
intercepted her on her way into a January 5 New Year's
reception for the diplomatic community at the presidential
palace. According to Batres, Medina Luna requested (on
behalf of Maduro) that she not attend the ceremony "because
it would upset the First Lady," even though all other
ministers were invited to the event.


3. (U) In an open letter to President Maduro, Batres (who up
to this point had refrained from caustic public remarks
regarding the First Lady) called Ocana's actions
"intolerable," claiming that the First Lady on more than one
occasion had impeded her from carrying out her official
responsibilities. Ocana subsequently publicly denied any
involvement in the decision to exclude Batres from the
diplomatic event and Maduro has denied to comment on his
reasons for excluding Batres from the event.


4. (C) COMMENT: The manner in which Batres was eased out of
her cabinet position is indicative of the leadership style
exhibited by President Maduro and his administration thus
far. Rather than confronting prickly personnel situations
head-on or delivering unpopular policy decisions himself,
Maduro often prefers that his subordinates carry the water
when any type of bad or uncomfortable news is announced,
which at times creates even more conflict. END COMMENT
PALMER