The New York Times is reporting the Sadrist bloc has made a stunning reversal to support erstwhile opponent and political bugbear, Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, for another term at the helm of the Iraqi government. The Sadrists’ 39 seats would prove the critical tipping point for the incumbent premiere.
Should the Shi’a party – defined by its connection to nationalist cleric Moqtada al-Sadr – move forward with al-Maliki’s State of Law coalition, the alliance should command the Parliamentary seats necessary to win a majority and establish a new government. The contending Iraqi National Alliance’s top man, Adel Abdelmehdi, seems to have been shut out by the Sadrists unexpected about-face.
But the deal isn’t set in stone. A number of steps have yet to taken – the al-Maliki/Sadr ticket must shore up their support from the Kurds to guarantee their majority. Parliament must also convene to formally elect a president. This hasn’t happened since the government assembled this past spring to call roll. However, the most formidable obstacle to the creation of a new government remains the Iraqiya bloc, led by former PM Ayad Allawi. Having won 91 seats in the March 7 election (two more than Maliki’s State of Law), the party stated last week it will not participate under a Maliki-led government.
Seven months after the election was held, the one thing all parties involved can agree upon is that the next government must include the full galaxy of Iraq’s splintered political faction. The inclusion of Iraqiya, which was heavily supported by minority Sunnis, is critical to national stability. As Allawi has warned, an Iraqi government that rejects their presence could lead to renewed sectarian conflict and fatally undermine any shred of confidence the people still have in their government.
