GEORGIA: CABINET RESHUFFLE DRAWS LITTLE REACTION

C O N F I D E N T I A L TBILISI 002025 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/25/2018 TAGS: PGOV PREL GG SUBJECT: GEORGIA: CABINET RESHUFFLE DRAWS LITTLE REACTION REF: A. A) TBILISI 2009 ¶B. B) TBILISI 1987 Classified By: Charge d'Affaires a. i. Kent Logsdon for Reasons: 1.4 ( B) AND (D). ¶1. (C) Summary/Comment: In a widely anticipated move, four new Cabinet members were nominated October 29 to head up the Ministries of Justice, Culture, Refugees, and Environment. The shakeup drew little reaction among the press or opposition as all are familiar names and loyal Saakashvili backers who represent no change in governing philosophy or policy initiatives. The Parliament must still approve the Prime Minister and the new Government slate. Saakashvili hailed the move as providing new blood and new energy to continue the implementation of his programs, but added that new PM Mgaloblishvili retains "full autonomy" in forming a new cabinet. Despite the public pronouncement, Saakashvili's reshuffle seems to confirm that he is the one choosing ministers. The reshuffle amounts to little more than maintaining the status quo. There is little evidence thus far that calls from the opposition outside parliament for Saakashvili's resignation have found resonance with the public and recent polling (reftel B) suggests that Saakashvili maintains public support. The timing of the announcement, an indicator that that Saakashvili is responding to a public perception that changes are needed following the August conflict and may well have been designed to deflate opposition calls for rallies on November 7. End Summary and Comment. Expected Move Causes Little Stir -------------- ¶2. (SBU) The rollout of the new ministers was hailed by President Saakashvili who was visiting Norway. He stated that .. "one phase of the governmental program was over and now they needed new blood and new energy to continue implementation of other economic programs." Speaker of the Parliament Bakradze was quoted as saying that "(i)t is logical that minor changes are carried out in the cabinet, because this government has passed through the major test which was the war; so I do not see any reason for major changes." Opposition response was equally predictable with Gigi Tortladze (an independent opposition politician in parliament) stating that he did not view these appointments as significant policy adjustments. Tortladze said that "Mgaloblishvili will not have his own team just as (former Prime Ministers) Gurgenidze and Noghaideli did not." Nevertheless, there has been little outcry from the opposition about the move. Reftel A reports views suggesting that Mgaloblishvili and his team may have a short term in office. Deja Vu All Over Again -------------- ¶3. (SBU) The new Ministers are members of Saakashvili's larger circle with some of them retaking positions they formerly held. The new Minister of Refugees and Resettlement is Koba Subeliani, who was held the same position from November 2007 until May 2008 when he became a Member of Parliament. Subeliani, like many Cabinet members is young having just turned 30, but was widely hailed in the weeks following the conflict as the leading government voice on dealing with the IDP issue. The current Head of President Saakashvili's Administration, Zurab Adeishvili will become Minister of Justice, a position he held from December 2003 until February 2004. Adeishvili recently turned 36. Governor of Samtskhe-Javakheti region Goga Khachidze, also in his late 30s, will become the new Minister of the Environment. Grigol Vashadze who is currently a Deputy Foreign Minister and married to Georgia's leading ballerina, will become the new Minister of Culture. Vashadze is 50 and Qwill become the new Minister of Culture. Vashadze is 50 and has spent most of his life in private business. LOGSDON