Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06PANAMA1291
2006-07-03 21:48:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Panama
how-toVZCZCXYZ0006 OO RUEHWEB DE RUEHZP #1291 1842148 ZNR UUUUU ZZH O 032148Z JUL 06 FM AMEMBASSY PANAMA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 8483 INFO RUEHZA/WHA CENTRAL AMERICAN COLLECTIVE RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC RHMFISS/JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC RUEKJCS/OSD WASHDC RHMFISS/CDR USSOUTHCOM MIAMI FL//J5/J2/POLAD//
UNCLAS PANAMA 001291
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR WHA/CEN
SOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV PM
SUBJECT: PRESIDENT TORRIJOS CHANGES CABINET
REF: PANAMA 1044
UNCLAS PANAMA 001291
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR WHA/CEN
SOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV PM
SUBJECT: PRESIDENT TORRIJOS CHANGES CABINET
REF: PANAMA 1044
1. (SBU) President Torrijos nominated June 29 three new vice
ministers to his cabinet. The newly named vice minister for
Government and Justice is current ministry advisor Severino
Mejia. Current vice minister for Social Development Doris
Zapata is the new nominee for vice minister of Housing.
Taking over as vice minister for Social Development is Felipe
Cano, currently the director for local government. Further
changes may be announced in coming days.
2. (SBU) The latest cabinet changes was the third round of
personnel changes in two years for the Torrijos
administration, coming two months after the April 2006
reshuffle (see reftel). The changes came as no big surprise,
as several Embassy contacts had mentioned these names as
possible Cabinet additions.
3. (SBU) The cabinet changes are not expected to have much
impact on the future direction of the GOP. Rather, the
changes appear to be aimed at pleasing hard-line members of
the PRD. Mejia, former aide-de-camp to Manuel Noriega, has
developed good working relations with several law enforcement
members of our Embassy. We are hopeful that Mejia will help
solidify our relationship with this ministry. Zapata is a
close ally of Housing Minister and deputy PRD secretary
general Balbina Herrera. Cano is a PRD old-timer from Colon,
whose nomination is a possible attempt to appease those
outside Panama City.
EATON
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR WHA/CEN
SOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV PM
SUBJECT: PRESIDENT TORRIJOS CHANGES CABINET
REF: PANAMA 1044
1. (SBU) President Torrijos nominated June 29 three new vice
ministers to his cabinet. The newly named vice minister for
Government and Justice is current ministry advisor Severino
Mejia. Current vice minister for Social Development Doris
Zapata is the new nominee for vice minister of Housing.
Taking over as vice minister for Social Development is Felipe
Cano, currently the director for local government. Further
changes may be announced in coming days.
2. (SBU) The latest cabinet changes was the third round of
personnel changes in two years for the Torrijos
administration, coming two months after the April 2006
reshuffle (see reftel). The changes came as no big surprise,
as several Embassy contacts had mentioned these names as
possible Cabinet additions.
3. (SBU) The cabinet changes are not expected to have much
impact on the future direction of the GOP. Rather, the
changes appear to be aimed at pleasing hard-line members of
the PRD. Mejia, former aide-de-camp to Manuel Noriega, has
developed good working relations with several law enforcement
members of our Embassy. We are hopeful that Mejia will help
solidify our relationship with this ministry. Zapata is a
close ally of Housing Minister and deputy PRD secretary
general Balbina Herrera. Cano is a PRD old-timer from Colon,
whose nomination is a possible attempt to appease those
outside Panama City.
EATON