Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06BAGHDAD1388
2006-04-27 17:22:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Baghdad
Cable title:  

PRT BAGHDAD: COMMENTS BY BAGHDAD PROVINCIAL

Tags:  PGOV PINR PNAT IZ 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO6965
PP RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHIHL RUEHKUK RUEHMOS
DE RUEHGB #1388 1171722
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 271722Z APR 06
FM AMEMBASSY BAGHDAD
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 4141
INFO RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC
RHMFISS/HQ USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL
RUCNRAQ/IRAQ COLLECTIVE
C O N F I D E N T I A L BAGHDAD 001388 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR NEA-I/POL

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/27/2026
TAGS: PGOV PINR PNAT IZ
SUBJECT: PRT BAGHDAD: COMMENTS BY BAGHDAD PROVINCIAL
COUNCIL DEPUTY CHAIRMAN MOHAN AL-SAIDI ON POTENTIAL
PROVINCIAL AND DISTRICT ELECTIONS

Classified By: Classified by Baghdad PRT leader Joe Gregoire for reason
s 1.4 (B) and (D).

C O N F I D E N T I A L BAGHDAD 001388

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR NEA-I/POL

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/27/2026
TAGS: PGOV PINR PNAT IZ
SUBJECT: PRT BAGHDAD: COMMENTS BY BAGHDAD PROVINCIAL
COUNCIL DEPUTY CHAIRMAN MOHAN AL-SAIDI ON POTENTIAL
PROVINCIAL AND DISTRICT ELECTIONS

Classified By: Classified by Baghdad PRT leader Joe Gregoire for reason
s 1.4 (B) and (D).


1. (C) Baghdad Provincial Council(PC) Deputy Chairman Mohan
Al-Saidi recently told PRT member that the PC will not begin
preparations for provincial and district elections until well
after the formation of the Iraqi National Government. Mohan
added that the PC does not have an election timeline.


2. (C) The PC envisions conducting district and qada council
elections at the same time as the provincial elections.
Mohan believes the PC will plan and execute the provincial
and local elections. According to Mohan, the Independent
Electoral Commission of Iraq ) Baghdad (IECI-B) has not
expressed an interest in the elections.


3. (C) Mohan does not know whether a new electoral law will
be in place when the provincial and district elections are
held. However, he does not appear to be worried about the
prospect of having to rely on the electoral system the PC
used during the January 2005 national/provincial elections.


4. (C) According to Mohan, the future provincial and district
elections will be contested by a number of parties and blocs
that did not participate at the provincial level in January

2005. Mohan believes the Iraqi Islamic Party, the Iraqi
National Congress, and the National Iraqi List will field
candidates for the provincial and district elections.


5. (C) Comment. Past conversations with Mohan indicate that
he favors increased participation by political parties that
did not participate in the previous round of provincial
elections. Mohan wants the power and influence of the
Supreme Council for the Islamic Revolution in Iraq (SCIRI) on
the PC reduced. Mohan was elected to the PC as a member of
the National Cadre of Independents and Elites. He is a
Sadrist and a member of the Sadr Bureau.


6. (C) Comment continued. The participation in the next
round of provincial and local elections of parties not
currently represented in provincial and local politics may
lead to more representative local government. At the same
time, gains by parties not currently represented could lead
to political gridlock and polarization within Baghdad.
However, given the governance deficit that now characterizes
the province's political landscape, the PRT is hopeful that
the first of the two scenarios mentioned above will dominate.
End comment.
KHALILZAD