PRT TIKRIT: COULD A LIST-BASED ELECTION THREATEN

UNCLAS BAGHDAD 002343 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PINR KDEM IZ SUBJECT: PRT TIKRIT: COULD A LIST-BASED ELECTION THREATEN ANOTHER SUNNI BOYCOTT IN SALAH AD DIN? ¶1. (U) This is a PRT Tikrit, Salah ad Din cable. ¶2. (SBU) Most residents in the province of Salah ad Din (SaD) want elections to happen as soon as possible. They acknowledge that the boycott of the 2005 poll was a serious political misstep, and they are keen to correct it. In addition to wanting better representatives elected to national positions, they would also like to correct the geographic imbalance at the Provincial Council, which has no or limited representation from some major cities, including Bayji and Samarra. Would-be candidates and residents generally have weak ties to political parties, with most declaring themselves "independent." The list-based system of the previous elections, which required voters to select political parties rather than individual candidates, is universally disliked. ¶3. (SBU) Most in the province see the list-based electoral system as the reason that Iraqi politics have become so sectarian and that "deserters," Iraqis who left the country during the former regime, are now in positions of power. Several provincial government officials have said that how the elections are conducted is critical to seeing the province participate. The Governor has even said he will ensure that the next elections see candidates selected, not political parties. -------------- Comment -------------- ¶4. (SBU) If the list-based electoral system remains intact, it is possible a number of Sunnis in Salah ad Din will boycott the elections again. In the balance of the next elections, whenever they occur, hangs SaD Sunnis' perception that the GOI and provincial government are legitimate institutions and that Iraq's democracy allows for equal participation from individuals who held low-level or technocratic positions in the former regime. Although many in the province, especially the tribal leadership, are taking steps to fight al Qaeda, much work still remains to bring SaD Sunnis fully into the political fold and to see democratic institution take hold popularly. ¶5. (U) For additional reporting from PRT Tikrit, Salah ad Din, please see our SIPRNET Reporting Blog: http://www.intelink.sgov.gov/wiki/Tikrit CROCKER