Change rumored in government structure [Archives:2005/874/Viewpoint]

Editor
The structure of the new government for the first time in history will be as a collation government composed of representatives of the strongest three or four political parties in Yemen, or so say rumours from the top. It is rumoured that there will be changes in the current government prior to the celebration of Independence Day on the 26th of September so as to give hope to depressed Yemeni hearts when they go out in the streets chanting for the life of the president and our glorious revolution 43 years ago. The constitution gives the right to the president to make changes in the current government in one of three cases: during or post presidential elections, parliamentary elections or in the third case “whenever seen necessary”. Therefore, if any changes are thought to happen during this month it will come under the third category. There is vital need to “get rid of” a few ministers before a new government is restructured as a whole in April next year.

Rumours are also that there will be four to five ministers removed from their positions and these are Power, Education, Higher Education, Health and perhaps Civil Services as well. Considering that these Ministries are not where the actual problem resides the changes would seem even to a simple layman a waste of time if not an understating of the public mind. Nevertheless the changes, if at all, would be effective for a period of seven months. While Bajamal's government – which is reported to be the worse government in Yemen's history according to international reports and political observers – was not successful in any of the reform programs it attempted, then what could it possibly do in 7 months? The new ministers would probably spend most of this duration getting acquainted with who is who and how to get in the good books of you know who.

Notwithstanding all this, there is talk that a way out would be found through creating a collation government. The new prime minister would most probably be someone from the south, and a number of names are already being recommended to the President to pick the future substitute for Ba Jamal. It could be either one of other two Hadrami candidates Ba Sundowa or Ba Surra, or perhaps as published in al-Wihdawi last week current governor of Aden Dr. Yihya al-Shuaibi. However, all these names are in any case loyal to the ruling party in one way or the other, leaving very little space for a real collation government. Unless of course the main ministers in the new government such as Minister of Finance for example come from a strong opposition political party such as the YSP then there would not be much change in the government's attitude or behaviour all the same. In fact, if a collation government takes place and includes pseudo representatives of the opposition then the country would really be politically off balance, and have grave and enduring political consequences.
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