US embassy cable - 02KATHMANDU1955

C O N F I D E N T I A L KATHMANDU 001955 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR SA/INS 
LONDON FOR POL - RIEDEL 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/08/2012 
TAGS: PGOV, NP, Government of Nepal (GON), Political Parties 
SUBJECT: NEPAL:  PARTIES LOOKING FOR "FLEXIBILITY" FROM KING 
 
REF: KATHMANDU 1947 AND PREVIOUS 
 
Classified By: POL PMAHONEY.  REASON:  1.5 (B,D). 
 
1.  (C) The October 9 deadline set by King Gyanendra for 
political parties to forward their nominations for the 
interim Cabinet (Reftel) appears ready to pass without any 
names having been submitted.  A Palace source said the 
parties had so far sent no nominations to the King.  The 
King, who does not want to allow the deadline to slip too 
far, is reportedly weighing the possibility of announcing the 
Prime Minister and two ministers by October 10--with or 
without the consensus of the parties--and then tasking the 
new PM with consulting with the parties on the other members 
of the Cabinet.  The upcoming Dasain holiday (October 13-20) 
can provide some much-needed breathing space to allow this 
delicate process to play out, the source observed. 
 
2.  (C)  Madhav Nepal, leader of the Communist Party of Nepal 
- United Marxist Leninist (UML), told the Ambassador October 
9 that his party views the King's action in sacking the 
government of former Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba and 
assuming executive power as unconstitutional.  Nonetheless, 
the UML is looking ahead at how to deal with this new 
reality.  Since the Nepali Congress has lost the moral 
authority to govern, he stated, the UML has a legitimate 
claim to the post of prime minister.  The UML is willing to 
be flexible on this point, but the King should also show 
"flexibility and large-heartedness" by choosing the PM and 
forming the new government in consultation with the six 
parties.  Not all members of the Cabinet have to be 
politicians--some can be technocrats--but the post of Prime 
Minister must be held by a political figure with the 
experience and mass-based support needed to create the proper 
atmosphere for holding elections.  Nepal said the six major 
parties (minus the Deuba wing of the Nepali Congress) are 
still seeking a joint meeting with the King to press their 
views, which so far has not been granted.  That meeting may 
be granted October 10, he believes.  He indicated that if the 
six party leaders are allowed to meet together with the King, 
the King might then meet separately with each, if he chooses, 
to work out the details of the Cabinet.  By Nepal's 
calculations, the King can extend the deadline for Cabinet 
nominations to October 11 and still be able to form the 
government before the Dasain holiday. 
MALINOWSKI