JULY 4 UPDATE WITH SPEAKER MASHADANI ELECTIONS

C O N F I D E N T I A L BAGHDAD 002079 SIPDIS CORRECTED COPY OF BAGHDAD 2074 E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/06/2018 TAGS: PGOV PREL KDEM IZ SUBJECT: JULY 4 UPDATE WITH SPEAKER MASHADANI ELECTIONS LAW, TAWAFUQ RETURN REF: BAGHDAD 2054 AND PREVIOUS 1 (C) During a July 4 meeting with PolCouns, Speaker Mashadani said he was exerting maximum pressure on specific CoR members charged with negotiating language to delay elections in Kirkuk. If the committee of three members (reftel) does not reach agreement by July 7, he will present the draft law to the general membership for an article-by-article vote. His strategy, he explained, is to threaten parties creating obstacles with public blame for any delay in holding provincial elections. ¶2. (C) Addressing the expected presentation to the CoR of Tawafuq nominated ministers in the coming week, Mashadani said that approval by the membership was far from certain. Dissension within the Sunni Arab bloc meant that many of the Tawafuq CoR members would oppose the nominations. Added to that, Iraqiyya, Fadhila, Hewar, and the Sadrists would oppose the Tawafuq nominees, as well as the nominations of the four Shi'a ministers to fill other cabinet vacancies. CoR members were disregarded by their leaders, Mashadani said, and therefore felt little obligation to support governmental or leadership initiatives. ¶3. (C) Continuing on this theme, Mashadani blasted the Prime Minister for failing to treat the parliamentary wings of the parties in government as partners in any sense of the word. Maliki restricts his dealings with the CoR to communications with Deputy Speaker al-Attiyah and a few Dawa party members. He does not meet with the collective CoR leadership or with the PCNS and never attends any CoR sessions. Mashadani called Maliki "a little Saddam" who treats all those who disagree with him with scorn. He warned that talk of a vote of no confidence would resume by the fall because Maliki was not seen as trustworthy. CROCKER