Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06BAGHDAD2609
2006-07-20 17:53:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Baghdad
Cable title:
PROGRESS OF ELECTORAL COMMISSION LEGISLATION ON
how-toVZCZCXRO6645 PP RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHIHL RUEHKUK DE RUEHGB #2609 2011753 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 201753Z JUL 06 FM AMEMBASSY BAGHDAD TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 5844 INFO RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RHEHWSR/WHITE HOUSE SITUATION ROOM WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RUCNRAQ/IRAQ COLLECTIVE
C O N F I D E N T I A L BAGHDAD 002609
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/17/2016
TAGS: IZ KDEM PGOV PNAT PREL
SUBJECT: PROGRESS OF ELECTORAL COMMISSION LEGISLATION ON
THE COUNCIL FLOOR
REF: BAGHDAD 2512
Classified By: Classified by Political Counselor Margaret Scobey for re
asons 1.4 (b) and (d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L BAGHDAD 002609
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/17/2016
TAGS: IZ KDEM PGOV PNAT PREL
SUBJECT: PROGRESS OF ELECTORAL COMMISSION LEGISLATION ON
THE COUNCIL FLOOR
REF: BAGHDAD 2512
Classified By: Classified by Political Counselor Margaret Scobey for re
asons 1.4 (b) and (d).
1.(C) On July 15, the Council of Representatives (CoR)
introduced legislation to permanently establish the
Independent High Electoral Commission (IHEC) (REFTEL). A
scheduled second reading did not occur on July 17 due to
Sadrist and Fadhila walkouts over the violence in Mahmoudiya
(SEPTEL). The next opportunity for the second reading is
July 25, when the CoR is scheduled to return from its
week-long recess.
2.(C) The legislation is modeled after CPA Order No. 92, the
law which established the current Independent Electoral
Commission of Iraq (IECI). The proposed new law establishes
an IHEC maintaining the same basic structure (a Board of
Commissioners overseeing an electoral administration) and
authorities as the IECI. The new law contains provisions to
select and replace election commissioners and clearly places
the Board of Commissioners in authority over the Chief
Electoral Officer, resolving a source of conflict in the
current IECI. The draft law also contains provisions stating
that the CoR will &supervise8 the IHEC and giving it
authority to remove one or all of the Commissioners with a
simple majority floor vote.
3. (C) On July 16, EmbOffs met with Saleem al-Jeboori, Deputy
Chair of the Legal Committee, to discuss the proposed IHEC
legislation and express concern that the CoR oversight
provisions could weaken the independence of the IEHC. Special
Representative of the UN Secretary-General (SRSG) Ashraf Qazi
separately approached both the Legal Committee and the CoR
Speaker Mahmoud Mashadani with the same concern.
4. (C) A new draft prepared subsequently by the Legal
Committee reflected some of the changes discussed. The new
draft contained language which better defined election
commissioner qualifications, the process to select new
commissioners, and the transition of the administration staff
from the IECI to the IHEC. The second draft did not, however,
address concerns regarding the CoR-IEHC relationship.
5. (C) COMMENT: Post expects the second reading of the IHEC
draft law to be among the first agenda items the CoR
considers upon its return on July 25. Additional changes to
the draft are likely as the CoR debates the law. Post will
continue to monitor progress on this important legislation
and engage the Legal Committee and key floor leadership as
the law moves forward.
KHALILZAD
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/17/2016
TAGS: IZ KDEM PGOV PNAT PREL
SUBJECT: PROGRESS OF ELECTORAL COMMISSION LEGISLATION ON
THE COUNCIL FLOOR
REF: BAGHDAD 2512
Classified By: Classified by Political Counselor Margaret Scobey for re
asons 1.4 (b) and (d).
1.(C) On July 15, the Council of Representatives (CoR)
introduced legislation to permanently establish the
Independent High Electoral Commission (IHEC) (REFTEL). A
scheduled second reading did not occur on July 17 due to
Sadrist and Fadhila walkouts over the violence in Mahmoudiya
(SEPTEL). The next opportunity for the second reading is
July 25, when the CoR is scheduled to return from its
week-long recess.
2.(C) The legislation is modeled after CPA Order No. 92, the
law which established the current Independent Electoral
Commission of Iraq (IECI). The proposed new law establishes
an IHEC maintaining the same basic structure (a Board of
Commissioners overseeing an electoral administration) and
authorities as the IECI. The new law contains provisions to
select and replace election commissioners and clearly places
the Board of Commissioners in authority over the Chief
Electoral Officer, resolving a source of conflict in the
current IECI. The draft law also contains provisions stating
that the CoR will &supervise8 the IHEC and giving it
authority to remove one or all of the Commissioners with a
simple majority floor vote.
3. (C) On July 16, EmbOffs met with Saleem al-Jeboori, Deputy
Chair of the Legal Committee, to discuss the proposed IHEC
legislation and express concern that the CoR oversight
provisions could weaken the independence of the IEHC. Special
Representative of the UN Secretary-General (SRSG) Ashraf Qazi
separately approached both the Legal Committee and the CoR
Speaker Mahmoud Mashadani with the same concern.
4. (C) A new draft prepared subsequently by the Legal
Committee reflected some of the changes discussed. The new
draft contained language which better defined election
commissioner qualifications, the process to select new
commissioners, and the transition of the administration staff
from the IECI to the IHEC. The second draft did not, however,
address concerns regarding the CoR-IEHC relationship.
5. (C) COMMENT: Post expects the second reading of the IHEC
draft law to be among the first agenda items the CoR
considers upon its return on July 25. Additional changes to
the draft are likely as the CoR debates the law. Post will
continue to monitor progress on this important legislation
and engage the Legal Committee and key floor leadership as
the law moves forward.
KHALILZAD