BABIL PROVINCIAL COUNCIL AT END OF TERM: WHERE

C O N F I D E N T I A L BAGHDAD 000028 E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/07/2029 TAGS: PGOV PINR IZ SUBJECT: BABIL PROVINCIAL COUNCIL AT END OF TERM: WHERE POLITICS IS PERSONAL AND TRANSCENDS PARTY AFFILIATION Classified By: Deputy Polcouns John Fox, reasons 1.4 b/d. ¶1. (SBU) The Babil PC's last session of 2008, in which it wrestled with whether and how to spend the remaining balance of its 2008 capital budget, underscored that politics in the province is dominated by personal ties and interests over party solidarity, even with provincial elections only one month away. While there was almost unanimous sentiment against returning uncommitted funds, there was heated debate over how to expend the remaining funds, and there were plenty of charges of corruption, some directed at other PC members and some at the Water Department. The PC received a report from a special PC investigative committee that concluded there had been corrupt practices in awarding 5 contracts worth ID 130 billion in December, including the construction of a major water compact unit with a capacity of 500 cubic feet/hour. ¶2. (C) In the ensuing heated debate, Badr deputy head Hassan Al-Hamza, criticized the Governor's deputy for projects and budgetary affairs, Abdul Razzaq (ISCI) for irregularities in awarding of contracts. Both of them are candidates on the Shabeen al-Mirab (ISCI) seven-party coalition. In response, the hard-working Abdul Razzaq offered to resign and give his position to Hassan Al-Hamza, who is noted for dilletantish approach to PC business. Likewise, Hassan al-Hamza criticized the investigative commission, which had authorized Deputy Governor Hassoon Ali Hassoon (independent but ISCI friendly) to prepare a contract with the State Automobile Company in Baghdad to purchase a fleet of cars and auto parts in a last minute effort to spend remaining 2008 funds. The PC voted in favor of this option at the end of its December 30 session. ¶3. (C) The recently-fired head of the Provincial Integrity Commission, Ahmed Al-Hamidi, who once again attends PC sessions as a PC member, summarized sentiment among council members when he asserted that the PC could either &give the money to Babil,s small thieves or Baghdad,s big ones.8 He had initially cautioned the council aginst an eleventh hour rush to commit the balance of the budget so as not to violate financial regulations, but he relented when he found no support. ¶4. (C) The debate highlighted the state of politics in Babil,s Provincial Council. This kind of debate in open session in the presence of a journalist and camera would not likely have occurred until recently. Just over one year ago, Hassan Al-Hamza burst into the PC chambers with a dozen gunmen putting a stop to the debate over the Governor,s educational qualifications to hold office. At the December 30 session, several members stood up to Hassan Al-Hamza and even noted that he failed to attend four of the five meetings of the investigative committee. No less important, the sides in this debate were not formed along party lines. Personal ties and interests clearly outweighed party unity, illustrating the extent to which personal/tribal ties are still central to the political calculus of PC members, many of whom are at the end of their term of office with little chance of reelection. ¶5. (SBU) In another sign of an opening of the political process, the local media has begun to report allegations of corruption in the provincial government, although with great care not to cross perceived red lines, such as naming ranking provincial officials with powerful political connections. CROCKER