NO CABINET SHAKEUP AS RESULT OF CHANGE IN PRIME

C O N F I D E N T I A L ALGIERS 000953 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/27/2016 TAGS: PGOV KDEM AG SUBJECT: NO CABINET SHAKEUP AS RESULT OF CHANGE IN PRIME MINISTERS REF: ALGIERS 950 Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Marc Sievers, Reason 1.4 (d) ¶1. (U) Algerian media announced the evening of May 25 the only change in the cabinet, the appointment of former Presidential counselor Hachemi Djiar as Minister of Communication; other than the replacement of Ahmed Ouyahia as Prime Minister by Abdelaziz Belkhadem, there reportedly will be no further change in the Government's composition. The post of Minister of Communication had in any case been left open since the last Government reshuffle in May 2005, and Djiar's responsiblities in the Presidency included working on Bouteflika's speeches, making him a logical candidate for the post. ¶2. (SBU) In a further indication of negative reaction among educated, urban Algerian women to the appointment of the Islamist-leaning Belkhadem as Prime Minister, POL senior FSN learned that Minister Delegate for Family and Women's Affairs Nouara Saadia Djaafar refused to continue to report to Prime Minister Belkhadem, whom she reportedly detests, and will instead now report to the Minister of Health. ¶3. (C) Comment: The decision not to undertake a significant cabinet reshuffle in the aftermath of the change in prime ministers indicates President Bouteflika's decision to send a message that his appointment of Abdelaziz Belkhadem does not portend a broader shakeup in Algeria's policy direction. Belkhadem's focus will likely therefore be on finalizing the implementation of Bouteflika's National Reconciliation program, along with amending the Constitution (probably to create the position of Vice President and allow a third presidential term) and raising public sector salaries, as Belkhadem has already announced. Bouteflika is signaling clearly that he, not Belkhadem, is firmly in charge, and will continue to implement his reform program, while relying on Belkhadem's enhanced political position to shape the 2007 legislative and local council elections. SIEVERS