Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09KATHMANDU435
2009-05-22 09:13:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Kathmandu
Cable title:
NEPAL: ELECTION OF NEW PRIME MINISTER MAY OCCUR
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C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 KATHMANDU 000435
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/22/2019
TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM KDEM NP
SUBJECT: NEPAL: ELECTION OF NEW PRIME MINISTER MAY OCCUR
MAY 23
REF: KATHAMNDU 372
Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission Randy W. Berry. Reasons 1.4 (b/
d).
Summary
-------
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 KATHMANDU 000435
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/22/2019
TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM KDEM NP
SUBJECT: NEPAL: ELECTION OF NEW PRIME MINISTER MAY OCCUR
MAY 23
REF: KATHAMNDU 372
Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission Randy W. Berry. Reasons 1.4 (b/
d).
Summary
--------------
1. (C) Caretaker Prime Minister Dahal's address to the
Constituent Assembly on May 22 paves the way for holding an
election of a new Prime Minister on May 23. Former Communist
Party of Nepal - United Marxist Leninist General Secretary
Madhav Nepal is currently the only candidate. It may still
take a week before the full cabinet can be presented and
sworn-in. The potential for Maoist disruption of the vote is
still real.
PM Addresses Parliament
--------------
2. (U) Caretaker Prime Minister Pushpa Dahal's 35-minute
address to the Constituent Assembly (CA) on the afternoon of
May 22 paves the way to hold an election in the parliament of
a new Prime Minister on May 23. The Maoists had been
disrupting all legislative business since the Prime Minister
submitted his resignation May 4 (reftel). Dahal defended the
actions of his government and restated his party's commitment
to the peace process and drafting a new constitution. After
the speech CA Chairman Subash Nemwang was expected to read
letters from President Ram Baran Yadav announcing the PM's
resignation and calling for election of a majority
government. (Note: The CA session was ongoing at close of
business.) A meeting of the CA Business Affairs Committee
had been called following the CA session to discuss election
procedures and the Maoist's controversial resolution
condemning the President's reinstatement of Chief of Army
Staff General Katawal.
Expected Election Procedures
--------------
3. (U) The CA Chairman/Secretariat has already announced that
the election of the new Prime Minister is scheduled for 3
p.m. local time on May 23. The sole confirmed candidate is
former Communist Party of Nepal - United Marxist Leninist
General Secretary Madhav Kumar Nepal, who appears to enjoy a
comfortable majority. If the Maoists decide not to file a
rival candidate then the vote may be conducted by
acclimation, or voice vote. (Note: Local press had reported
the Maoists were considering nominating Jhakku Prasad Subedi,
the candidate who defeated Madhav Nepal in Kathmandu-2 in the
CA election in April 2008.) If the Maoists file a rival
candidate for the office of prime minister, then the
candidates would likely be voted on in the order their
nominations were filed.
Next Steps
--------------
4. (C) If MK Nepal is elected Prime Minister on May 23, it
may still take a week before the full cabinet can be
presented and sworn-in. Negotiations as to which party will
receive which portfolios have been delayed as the potential
coalition partners waited to see whether MK Nepal would
actually become the new PM, and by parties such as Madhesi
People's Rights Forum having difficulty deciding whether they
would try to claim ministries or support the government from
outside. Sunil Pant, a CA member from the small CPN-United,
told Emboff May 19 that his party's main objective was to
influence the drafting of the new constitution and the party
had neither the desire nor appropriate personnel to lay claim
to ministerial positions. Sujata Koirala, Nepali Congress
(NC) Central committee member and daughter of NC President GP
Koirala, told Emboff May 21 that party leaders who thought
the government was weak and short-lived were not lobbying
hard to become ministers. Others, however, were unsure they
KATHMANDU 00000435 002 OF 002
wanted to take the risk of being left out in case the
government did last and successfully oversee drafting of the
new constitution.
Comment
--------------
5. (C) While today's session of the CA is encouraging, it
does not guarantee the election will occur on May 23. The
Maoist's announced May 21 that if the CA did not debate their
resolution they might resume disrupting all CA business. At
the end of his speech Dahal stated that he was assured the CA
would discuss the proposal, but the other parties have
announced that they believe the proposal is unconstitutional
and thus cannot be brought to the floor for a debate and
vote. The possibility of Maoist disruption is still real.
POWELL
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/22/2019
TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM KDEM NP
SUBJECT: NEPAL: ELECTION OF NEW PRIME MINISTER MAY OCCUR
MAY 23
REF: KATHAMNDU 372
Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission Randy W. Berry. Reasons 1.4 (b/
d).
Summary
--------------
1. (C) Caretaker Prime Minister Dahal's address to the
Constituent Assembly on May 22 paves the way for holding an
election of a new Prime Minister on May 23. Former Communist
Party of Nepal - United Marxist Leninist General Secretary
Madhav Nepal is currently the only candidate. It may still
take a week before the full cabinet can be presented and
sworn-in. The potential for Maoist disruption of the vote is
still real.
PM Addresses Parliament
--------------
2. (U) Caretaker Prime Minister Pushpa Dahal's 35-minute
address to the Constituent Assembly (CA) on the afternoon of
May 22 paves the way to hold an election in the parliament of
a new Prime Minister on May 23. The Maoists had been
disrupting all legislative business since the Prime Minister
submitted his resignation May 4 (reftel). Dahal defended the
actions of his government and restated his party's commitment
to the peace process and drafting a new constitution. After
the speech CA Chairman Subash Nemwang was expected to read
letters from President Ram Baran Yadav announcing the PM's
resignation and calling for election of a majority
government. (Note: The CA session was ongoing at close of
business.) A meeting of the CA Business Affairs Committee
had been called following the CA session to discuss election
procedures and the Maoist's controversial resolution
condemning the President's reinstatement of Chief of Army
Staff General Katawal.
Expected Election Procedures
--------------
3. (U) The CA Chairman/Secretariat has already announced that
the election of the new Prime Minister is scheduled for 3
p.m. local time on May 23. The sole confirmed candidate is
former Communist Party of Nepal - United Marxist Leninist
General Secretary Madhav Kumar Nepal, who appears to enjoy a
comfortable majority. If the Maoists decide not to file a
rival candidate then the vote may be conducted by
acclimation, or voice vote. (Note: Local press had reported
the Maoists were considering nominating Jhakku Prasad Subedi,
the candidate who defeated Madhav Nepal in Kathmandu-2 in the
CA election in April 2008.) If the Maoists file a rival
candidate for the office of prime minister, then the
candidates would likely be voted on in the order their
nominations were filed.
Next Steps
--------------
4. (C) If MK Nepal is elected Prime Minister on May 23, it
may still take a week before the full cabinet can be
presented and sworn-in. Negotiations as to which party will
receive which portfolios have been delayed as the potential
coalition partners waited to see whether MK Nepal would
actually become the new PM, and by parties such as Madhesi
People's Rights Forum having difficulty deciding whether they
would try to claim ministries or support the government from
outside. Sunil Pant, a CA member from the small CPN-United,
told Emboff May 19 that his party's main objective was to
influence the drafting of the new constitution and the party
had neither the desire nor appropriate personnel to lay claim
to ministerial positions. Sujata Koirala, Nepali Congress
(NC) Central committee member and daughter of NC President GP
Koirala, told Emboff May 21 that party leaders who thought
the government was weak and short-lived were not lobbying
hard to become ministers. Others, however, were unsure they
KATHMANDU 00000435 002 OF 002
wanted to take the risk of being left out in case the
government did last and successfully oversee drafting of the
new constitution.
Comment
--------------
5. (C) While today's session of the CA is encouraging, it
does not guarantee the election will occur on May 23. The
Maoist's announced May 21 that if the CA did not debate their
resolution they might resume disrupting all CA business. At
the end of his speech Dahal stated that he was assured the CA
would discuss the proposal, but the other parties have
announced that they believe the proposal is unconstitutional
and thus cannot be brought to the floor for a debate and
vote. The possibility of Maoist disruption is still real.
POWELL