Meya Rejal

Meya Rejal was a Cardassian politician and leader of the Cardassian dissident movement in the early 2370s.

In 2371, Rejal led the coup d'etat that overthrew the Cardassian Central Command following the near-annihilation of the Obsidian Order at the hands of the Dominion. Through bribery, blackmail, and the execution of a legate and three guls, the dissident movement assumed control of the Detapa Council, which issued a Declaration of the Transference and Assumption of Powers ending military rule. Rejal herself became Chief Executor of the Detapa Council, the new head of state and head of government of the Cardassian Union.

Rejal's term in office was plagued by political crises from the start. The Cardassian people clamored for democratic elections, and there was widespread support for the return of the exiled Tekeny Ghemor to assume power. It soon became clear that Rejal had no intention of allowing Ghemor to become Chief Executor, or of bringing in elections. Chief Executor Rejal even authorized the Central Command to undertake police actions in Cardassia City, leading to brutal reprisals against dissidents.

Chief Executor Rejal's government was also suspected of being comprised of Changelings by the Klingon Empire, leading to the 2372 invasion (and indirectly to the 2372 Klingon-Federation War. Rejal's chief military advisor during this period was Gul Skrain Dukat, who saved her and the Council from the Klingons by bringing Rejal to Federation Starbase Deep Space 9. Rejal later had Dukat demoted following the revelation of the existence of Tora Ziyal.

Rejal's government was overthrown by Dukat in the 2373 Cardassian coup that brought Dukat to power and led to the annexation of the Cardassian Union by the Dominion. Rejal was executed by Dominion forces after attempting to rally the Cardassian people behind her widely unpopular government. (.)