GOVERNMENT FORMATION UPDATE: SHAHRISTANI SAYS GAP

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BAGHDAD 000357 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/06/2026 TAGS: IZ PGOV PNAT SUBJECT: GOVERNMENT FORMATION UPDATE: SHAHRISTANI SAYS GAP NARROWING IN PM RACE; HASHIMI SAYS SUNNIS PONDERING GOVERNMENT POSITIONS Classified By: POL Couns Robert Ford, reason 1.4 (d) -------------- SUMMARY -------------- ¶1. (C) Shia Independent PM candidate Shahristani told visiting DAS Godec February 6 that the gap has narrowed considerably in UIA 555 discussion on PM candidates. Both Shahristani and Shia Independent Sami al-Askari told us February 6 that the Shia Islamist Coalition (List 555) would put the matter to a vote on February 11. Askari also claimed that al-Jabiri has dropped out of the race amidst internet chatter that the Fadhila leader published pro- Saddam articles in the 1980's. SCIRI insider and MFA official Hamid Bayati told us February 6 that Jafari is merely delaying the List 555 PM decision to wring concessions from SCIRI. In particular, Bayati claimed, Jafari wants to be named the head of the List 555 block inside the parliament - a position now held by SCIRI head Abdel Aziz al-Hakim.Tawafuq's Tariq al-Hashimi said the Sunni coalition should have a list of cabinet candidates to share with the Embassy in a few days, noting that both he and Muslim Brotherhood's Osama al-Tikriti are potential presidency candidates. We report these discussions not because of landmark decisions but rather to demonstrate the thinking and occasional weird stories that we find among political contacts now. Talks between the blocks are still at an early stage: we lack final election results which might matter for List 555 if the race between Abd al-Mahdi and Jafari is down to a few votes. In addition, we don't have a clear List 555 leader for program negotiations which the new PM should be. Discussions will shift into a higher gear after February 11 when we could have a List 555 PM nominee and final election results. END SUMMARY -------------- SHAHRISTANI: ADMITS LIMITED SUPPORT -------------- ¶2. (C) During a February 6 meeting with NEA/DAS Godec, TNA Deputy Speaker and Shia Prime Minister candidate Hussein al-Shahristani explained that the Shia Islamist Coalition is still trying "very hard" to reach consensus on a candidate and that the gap has been narrowed considerably. As a result, the Shia Coalition postponed the Prime Minister vote until Saturday, February 11. Shahristani said that the Coalition fears that a close vote could �0A;exacerbate its internal tensions. He added that members are prepared to vote if no agreement can be reached. Although Shahristani has not conceded the race, he admitted that he currently does not have support from any group outside the independents. Shahristani said that the Shia coalition would be happy to negotiate with Tawafuq and Ayad Allawi's Iraqi National List as a combined bloc (if it comes to fruition) or separately with each party. He also noted that the Shia Islamist Coalition is readying a political program that includes heavy accents on security, national economic reconstruction and employment. -------------- ASKARI SAYS BOTH SHAHRISTANI AND JABIRI OUT -------------- ¶4. (C) Independent UIC 555 coalition member Sami Al-Askari, however, told poloff February 6 that Shahristani has in fact told other Shia independents that he has decided to drop out of the PM race. Askari said the Shia coalition will vote to decide who will be Iraq's next Prime Minister February 11. He claimed that Fadhila Party leaders had asked that the vote take place on this date because it is considering backing Prime Minister Jafari rather than Deputy President Abd al-Mahdi. Askari alleged that there is internet chatter that Jabiri published articles under a pseudonym in the 1980's praising Saddam Hussein. Askari claimed that Fadhila spiritual leader Ayatollah Yaqubi is considering backing Jafari, and the party is awaiting his final decision. Al-Askari also claimed Nadeem al-Jabiri has dropped out of the race. (Comment: we have not heard such a thing from Jabiri himself, and February 6 press reports show his aides insisting the PM issue is not yet decided. End Comment. We report this, therefore, mainly to show the kinds of chatter on the Baghdad circuits now.) ¶5. (C) SCIRI Council of Representatives members Abdul Kareem al-Nakeeb and Abdul Jabar Rehaif al-Abudi echoed Askari's views in a separate February 6 conversation with poloff. They said there had been an agreement to hold a vote that day, but that it was decided that no decision BAGHDAD 00000357 002 OF 002 could be made until after the IECI announced the final, certified election results. Nakeeb and al-Abudi were confident that Deputy President Adel Abd al-Mahdi would be chosen as the next Prime Minister. ¶6. (C) Another SCIRI insider, Deputy Foreign Minister Hamid Bayati, told us February 6 that Abd al-Mahdi will get the PM nod from the Shia Coalition. He said that Jafari is merely delaying the outcome hoping to secure concessions from SCIRI. In particular, Bayati claimed, Jafari wants to be named the head of the Shia Islamist Coalition (List 555) inside the parliament - a position now held by SCIRI head Abdel Aziz al-Hakim. Bayati with a wry smile predicted SCIRI would not be accommodating and could accept the February 11 vote outcome without a pre-cooked deal. -------------- SUNNI LIST -------------- ¶7. (C) In a separate February 6 meeting with DAS Godec, Sunni Arab Tawafuq Front leaders Adnan al-Dulaymi and Tariq al-Hashimi dismissed out of hand the possibility of Qassim Daoud taking over a security ministry. Dulaymi was equally dismissive of Mithal Alusi ("he's not one of us!"). Hashimi said that making sure that non-sectarian professionals with no ties to the militias are in charge of the security ministries is a Tawafuq red line. Hashimi told Poloff that Sunnis are putting together a list of possible candidates for senior government positions and should have a list to share with the Embassy in a few days. Hashimi said that he or the Muslim Brotherhood's Osama al- Tikriti would be likely Tawafuq candidates for the Iraqi Presidency should Tawafuq seek that position. ¶8. (C) Separately, Salih Mutlak told Poloff that there is no truth to published reports that his Iraqi National Dialogue Front (with 11 seats) had joined the List 555 coalition. Mutlak said he had no projection on the outcome of the PM sweepstakes saying only that Jafari and Abd al- Mahdi are close. Mutlak met Jafari on February 6 but claims he was not offered a position nor did he offer Jafari his support. Mutlak said that leaders of the MARAM front, formed after the election to protest the results, met on February 5 and decided that the Front will continue to exist as a political coalition, with a head to be elected at a later date. -------------- COMMENT -------------- ¶9. (C) As our reporting over the past several days shows, the Iraqi political class is hard at work chewing over possibilities. In typical Iraqi fashion, there is more attention to personalities winning cabinet seats than there is to agreed government programs. We have heard from more thoughtful members of the political elite, such as Fuad Masum and Hussein Shahristani, that they have started drafting out government program proposals. We are starting to lay out ideas as well. Above all, the talks are still at an early stage: we lack final election results which might matter for List 555 if the race between Abd al-Mahdi and Jafari is down to a few votes. In addition, we don't have a clear List 555 leader for program negotiations which the new PM should be. Discussions will shift into a higher gear after February 11 when we could have a List 555 PM nominee and final election results. KHALILZAD