Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08BAGHDAD895
2008-03-25 16:07:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Baghdad
Cable title:  

NEXT STEPS ON PROVINCIAL POWERS

Tags:  PREL IZ PGOV POL 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO4083
PP RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHIHL RUEHKUK
DE RUEHGB #0895 0851607
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 251607Z MAR 08
FM AMEMBASSY BAGHDAD
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 6418
INFO RUCNRAQ/IRAQ COLLECTIVE
C O N F I D E N T I A L BAGHDAD 000895 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/20/2018
TAGS: PGOVPOL PREL IZ
SUBJECT: NEXT STEPS ON PROVINCIAL POWERS

REF: A. BAGHDAD O-I 3/19/08

B. BAGHDAD O-I 3/13/08

Classified By: Political Counselor Matt Tueller for reasons 1.4 (b) and
(d)

C O N F I D E N T I A L BAGHDAD 000895

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/20/2018
TAGS: PGOVPOL PREL IZ
SUBJECT: NEXT STEPS ON PROVINCIAL POWERS

REF: A. BAGHDAD O-I 3/19/08

B. BAGHDAD O-I 3/13/08

Classified By: Political Counselor Matt Tueller for reasons 1.4 (b) and
(d)


1. (C) On March 19, 2008 the Presidency Council released a
statement announcing that after deliberations with the
leaders of the Council of Representatives (CoR) and party
blocs, it has unanimously decided to withdraw its objections
to the Provincial Powers Law (or PPL; see ref A). It is our
understanding that Vice President Abdel Mehdi agreed to
withdraw his veto if the CoR leadership pledged to amend the
PPL before provincial elections are held, although the exact
nature of any amendments to the law remain an open question.
The PPL will now be sent to the Ministry of Justice for
publication in the Official Gazette. The PPL requires the
CoR to pass a provincial elections law no later than May 13
(90 days after the PPL was passed) and hold provincial
elections by October 1, 2008.


2. (C) Given that the CoR has already taken over a month long
recess (February 14-March 25),this schedule is extremely
ambitious -- MPs will have only five to six weeks to
deliberate on the elections law. Deputy Chair of the Legal
Committee Salim Jibouri (IIP/Tawafuq) told PolOffs on
February 13 the CoR has not even received a draft from the
GOI of the provincial elections law (ref B). Keeping the
CoR's passage of the elections law on track will be key to
meeting the October 1 deadline for provincial elections. The
PPL will enter into force on the date it is published in the
gazette, but most of its provisions will not be applicable
until after the elections of new provincial councils are
held, according to Article 55 of the law.
CROCKER