SALEH ASSERTS CONTROL OVER PARLIAMENT: LEADERSHIP

C O N F I D E N T I A L SANAA 000392

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/15/2016
TAGS: PREL PGOV KDEM YM DOMESTIC POLITICS
SUBJECT: SALEH ASSERTS CONTROL OVER PARLIAMENT: LEADERSHIP
RE-ELECTED, REFORMERS WITHDRAW FROM RACE

REF: SANAA 330

Classified By: AMBASSADOR THOMAS C. KRAJESKI, FOR REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (
D).


1. (C) After months of maneuvering by reform-minded
parliamentarians, President Saleh drew a line in the sand on
February 15 and demanded loyalty. MPs re-elected Sheikh
Abdullah al-Ahmar to a two-year term as Speaker with 240 yes
votes and 12 blank ballots, and re-elected all three Deputy
Speakers as well. Al-Ahmar,s victory came as no surprise,
after the ruling GPC party made clear its intention to follow
the President,s instructions and re-elect the sheikh, head
of the opposition Islah party (reftel). Sheikh Abdullah did
not return from Saudi Arabia, where he has been receiving
medical treatment, for the election. Some sources reported
that he sent a communiqu that he was willing to stand for
election, which some regarded as a small nod to the
democratic process.


2. (C) More surprising was the President,s hard line for
the rest of the four-member Presidium (NOTE: The Presidium
has broad powers in deciding which laws are debated and what
demands are made of the executive. END NOTE). The GPC caucus
had already agreed to support Yahya al-Ra,i, widely regarded
as the President,s man. In a party vote, however, GPC
members chose Sakhar al-Wajee and Mohammed al-Shadadi, both
regarded as reformers in favor of a more independent
legislature. Shadadi withdrew his candidacy under intense
pressure from the executive, and dozens of GPC
parliamentarians abandoned Wajee when the vote reached the
floor. As a result, Parliament re-elected Jafar Basale and
Abdul Wahab Mahmood, both of whom have proved pliant to the
demands of the executive.


3. (C) Comment: This is a step backwards for Parliament,
which showed some backbone in recent months by passing new
bylaws and challenging ROYG ministers on issues of
corruption. In the end, however, internal elections
demonstrated the limits of the legislature,s independence.
MPs belonging to the President,s ruling GPC party were
forced to tow the line and do Saleh,s bidding. In fact, the
President showed so little respect for Parliament or his
party at all, allowing them to go through a democratic
process only to override it at the last minute. The
experience is likely to leave a bad taste in the mouths of
many MPs and could foment future parliamentary rebellions,
but for now it remains clear who is in charge. End Comment
Krajeski