BURJANADZE SPEAKS OUT AGAINST CABINET CHANGES

C O N F I D E N T I A L TBILISI 002221 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPT FOR EUR/CARC E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/04/2017 TAGS: PGOV GG SUBJECT: BURJANADZE SPEAKS OUT AGAINST CABINET CHANGES REF: TBILISI 2169 Classified by Ambassador John F. Tefft, reasons: 1.4 (b)(d) ¶1. (U) On September 4, Speaker of Parliament, Nino Burjanadze, used the first planning meeting of the new Parliamentary session to speak out publicly against the proposed Cabinet changes announced on August 29 by Prime Minister Noghaideli (reftel). Burjanadze said she was disappointed that the government did not consult her regarding the proposed changes. She said, "It is unacceptable when they do not hold consultations with the Speaker of the Parliament on the significant changes in the executive government and candidates." Majority Leader Maia Nadiradze rebuffed Burjanadze's criticism, saying "this is not written in the Bible" that the Speaker should be consulted prior to the proposed nominations. ¶2. (U) Burjanadze was particularly dissatisfied with the nomination of Minister of Finance Aleksi Alexishvili to become the President of the National Bank of Georgia. She said she has nothing against Alexishvili personally, but that he is not independent enough from the government to head the National Bank. According to widely reported rumors, Alexishvili is closely allied with Noghaideli, while Burjanadze preferred her own protQgQ for the National Bank position, Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Budget and Finances, Irakli Kovzanadze. As reported in the press, Alexishvili paid a visit to Burjanadze soon after her comments, possibly to lobby for his nomination. Burjanadze also expressed her dissatisfaction with the government action plan to be presented by the new cabinet. She said the plan the government submitted "is not a program. It is more like a protocol of intentions. We should know how the government is going to implement those intentions." ¶3. (C) Comment: Although Burjanadze - a member of the ruling National Movement - has been discreetly distancing herself from the government for some time, these remarks may be her most vocal and significant criticism since she opposed Noghaideli's nomination in 2005. Opposition figures expressed support for her comments, which mirrored their own criticism of the government, although some complained that her objections came too late. Parliament is scheduled to give its vote of confidence on the new cabinet on September 7. The next few days may show us how severe the split between Burjanadze and the government is. End comment. TEFFT