MALDIVES: MAJOR SHIFT IN PRESIDENT'S CABINET

C O N F I D E N T I A L COLOMBO 001189

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/28/2015
TAGS: PGOV MV
SUBJECT: MALDIVES: MAJOR SHIFT IN PRESIDENT'S CABINET
EXPECTED

Classified By: AMB. J. LUNSTEAD FOR REASONS 1.4(b) and (d)


1. (C) On July 7, poloff met in Male with members of the
recently registered Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) that
opposes the current government. MDP offical Ali Hashim told
poloff that he had met with Presidential Spokesman Ahmed
Shaheed and requested that the President's office compromise
by giving MDP supporters in the Majlis (parliament) the
portfolios for Home Affairs, Information, Trade, and Atolls.
Hashim said he did not believe that the MDP would gain all of
these Ministries, but he seemed confident that a cabinet
shake-up was imminent. He expected 40 percent or less of the
cabinet to turn over, but he did not say whether he expected
the MDP to gain any of the newly vacated seats in the cabinet.


2. (C) Earlier that day, Shaheed told poloff that on July 6,
the President met with him, the Attorney General, and several
advisors. The meeting lasted for five hours and covered a
massive shift in the President's cabinet. Shaheed said to
expect an 80-90 percent turn-over of current cabinet
ministers, and that the news will be made public July 10 or

11. While Shaheed did not give names of cabinet members
leaving or of their replacements, he stressed the need for
change at a moderate pace and expressed an intention to bring
more progressive elements and officials into the government.
He mentioned talking to MDP members on a personal, rather
than an official level, and did not specify whether the MDP
would receive any of the open cabinet positions.


3. (U) Septel on political climate in Maldives to follow.

LUNSTEAD