BABIL ELECTS NEW GOVERNOR: A DA'WA CHOICE BUT ON A SHORT

C O N F I D E N T I A L HILLAH 000030

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 4/19/2019
TAGS: PGOV PINR IZ
SUBJECT: BABIL ELECTS NEW GOVERNOR: A DA'WA CHOICE BUT ON A SHORT
LEASH

CLASSIFIED BY: Kenneth M. hillas, PRT Leader, Babil PRT, Dept
of State.
REASON: 1.4 (b),(d)




1. (SBU) On April 18 the Babil Provincial Council (PC) elected
Salman Nasser Taha Al Zargani as Governor by a vote of 20 out of
the 23 PC members present. Seven ISCI affiliated PC members,
led by the former Governor Salim Al-Muslimawi, walked out of
the meeting in protest. Da'wa and ISCI had been in negotiations
to give ISCI a position on either the PC or as an advisor in the
Governor's office. None of the offers met with ISCI's
satisfaction, and Da'wa provincial leaders moved ahead with the
vote.


2. (SBU) The new Governor is an Engineer, who was recently
working in Kerbala. He is a technocrat with Da'wa ties, but is
not a party official. Two years ago he was forced to step down
as Director of the Babil Sewage Department under pressure from
then-Governor Salim Al Muslimawi, who spread apparently false
allegations Al Zargani. The new Governor reportedly carries a
grudge aginst Al-Muslimawi and ISCI, which could add intensify
ISCI-Da'wa tensions in the province, especially if the new
Provincial Government is serious in its stated interest in
investigating corruption. In a conversation with the PRT Leader
a few hours after his election, Al Zargani expressed
appreciation for the work of the PRT, which he said he
"trusted."


3. (C) The new governor has been described by local Iraqis as
honest, competent and educated. He is not a member of the PC.
His nomination was reportedly approved by PM Maliki's office,
and reflects a Da'wa desire for professional administrative
competence at the provincial level, according to Da'wa sources.
Da'wa provincial party chairman, Abu Ahmed Al Basri did not
stand as a candidate in the end, despite his efforts to promote
his own candiday. The preference of the national Da'wa
leadership for technocratic/management experience and doubts
about Al Basri's educational qualifications - he is expected
soon to graduate from a university extension course - seem to
have ruled him out of contention.


4. (SBU) A Da'wa dissident, Majid Flejfel, broke ranks and put
forward his own candidacy. Otherwise, the Da'wa led coalition
held together in electing the Governor and Deputies.


5. (C) Comment: Da'wa, which won the largest vote percentage in
the provincial election, does not occupy a single leadership in
either the Provincial Council or the executive branch.
According to Da'wa officials, however, the new Governor had to
sign an undated letter of resignation, which was given to Da'wa
party chairman Al Basri to hold. This and other signs suggest
that Da'wa intends to play a strong role in the province's
government -- but from behind the scenes. We expect PRT
relations with the new Governor and his two deputies to be
constructive and cooperative.

HILLAS