US embassy cable - 05COLOMBO1189

C O N F I D E N T I A L COLOMBO 001189 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/28/2015 
TAGS: PGOV, MV, Maldives 
SUBJECT: MALDIVES: MAJOR SHIFT IN PRESIDENT'S CABINET 
EXPECTED 
 
Classified By: AMB. J. LUNSTEAD FOR REASONS 1.4(b) and (d) 
 
1. (C) On July 7, poloff met in Male with members of the 
recently registered Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) that 
opposes the current government.  MDP offical Ali Hashim told 
poloff that he had met with Presidential Spokesman Ahmed 
Shaheed and requested that the President's office compromise 
by giving MDP supporters in the Majlis (parliament) the 
portfolios for Home Affairs, Information, Trade, and Atolls. 
Hashim said he did not believe that the MDP would gain all of 
these Ministries, but he seemed confident that a cabinet 
shake-up was imminent.  He expected 40 percent or less of the 
cabinet to turn over, but he did not say whether he expected 
the MDP to gain any of the newly vacated seats in the cabinet. 
 
2. (C) Earlier that day, Shaheed told poloff that on July 6, 
the President met with him, the Attorney General, and several 
advisors.  The meeting lasted for five hours and covered a 
massive shift in the President's cabinet.  Shaheed said to 
expect an 80-90 percent turn-over of current cabinet 
ministers, and that the news will be made public July 10 or 
11.  While Shaheed did not give names of cabinet members 
leaving or of their replacements, he stressed the need for 
change at a moderate pace and expressed an intention to bring 
more progressive elements and officials into the government. 
He mentioned talking to MDP members on a personal, rather 
than an official level, and did not specify whether the MDP 
would receive any of the open cabinet positions. 
 
3. (U) Septel on political climate in Maldives to follow. 
 
LUNSTEAD