P R 231020Z FEB 09
FM REO HILLAH
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1150
INFO IRAQ COLLECTIVE
REO HILLAH 1223

C O N F I D E N T I A L HILLAH 000017 
 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL:  2/23/2019 
TAGS: PGOV PINR IZ
SUBJECT: BABIL POLITICAL JOCKEYING PUTS FORMER GOVERNOR WITWIT IN 
KING-MAKER ROLE 
 
CLASSIFIED BY: Kenneth M. hillas,  PRT Leader, Babil PRT, Dept 
of State. 
REASON: 1.4 (b), (d) 
 
¶1. (SBU) The final election results for the Babil Provincial 
Council (PC) give Da'wa (eight seats) a somewhat slimmer lead 
over ISCI (five seats) than had been originally expected based 
on preliminary results, although some difficult bargaining still 
lies ahead. Da'wa has established alliances with the Sadrist 
Free People's Trend (three seats) and Ja'faari's Reform Trend 
(three), which should give it 14 seats.  Da'wa will also need 
former Governor Witwit's Independent Civil Society (three seats) 
to secure a majority on the 30-seat PC, and Witwit is driving a 
hard bargain, according to several senior provincial political 
leaders. 
 
¶2. (U) The Independent Justice Party, which won three seats, was 
actually formed by ISCI to attract independent voters.  Together 
with Ayad Allawi's Iraqi National List (three seats) and 
outgoing PC Chairman Massoudi's Independent Supporters Bloc (two 
seats), ISCI can count on 13 votes.  The other Ansar Independent 
candidate elected to the PC, Fahim Mane'a Allawi, has evidently 
had a parting with the party leader and outgoing PC Chair 
Mohammed Al-Massoudi and is being courted by Da'wa.  Even if 
Da'wa were successful in this, or in also tempting at least one 
member of the pro-ISCI Justice Coalition to defect, it will not 
achieve a majority. 
 
¶3. (C)  This leaves Iskander Witwit in the role of king-maker. 
He is reportedly seeking the Governorship as the price for his 
support, although Da'wa and others claim that they are not 
prepared to cede this.  Da'wa and Sadrist leaders say they are 
prepared to offer Witwit the position of Provincial Council 
Chairman, but it is not clear that this will satisfy him.  ISCI 
is also courting Witwit, a avowed secularist, but an accord is a 
long shot. 
 
¶4.  (U) Of the 30 newly-elected PC members, only eight are 
carryovers from the previous council, representing a minimal 
amount of continuity.  Twenty-two of the former 41 members of 
the outgoing PC ran for reelection, so almost two-thirds were 
rejected by the voters.  Matching this result with the high 
expectations of the voters suggests a tough time for this new, 
less-experienced council as it learns its job and works at 
giving the voters what they want - improved essential services. 
 
HILLAS