The two main Kurdish parties in Iraq - Kurdistan Democratic Party and Patriotic Union of Kurdistan - are extremely energetic. They also have experience in manoeuvring and negotiating with others.

Last year these two parties made a couple of alliances. The first was called the quadruple alliance, which was signed last August with the Supreme Islamic Iraqi Council and the Al Dawa party led by Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Al Maliki. The second alliance meeting was held in December with the Islamic party, but it was not called an "alliance" officially, to spare the Islamic party problems in the Iraqi parliament.

The two agreements were signed within a few months of each other. The first alliance was brokered to support Al Maliki's government, which was suffering from withdrawal of support from the political blocs. The second alliance was a warning message to the Iraqi government, after disagreements started surfacing with the government over several issues, such as the allocations for the Kurds in the budget, the legal status of oil contracts that were signed by the Kurds without the participation of the government, the application of article 140, which deals with the future of Kirkuk and the salaries of the armed Kurdish groups.

This has led to a new situation affecting the Kurdish alliance for the first time. It also pushed the Kurdish alliance to a political isolation which might increase with time.

The Kurdish alliance with the Islamic party, which was intended to undermine Al Maliki's party, did the exact opposite. More than 150 parliamentarians belonging to 12 different political blocs signed a memorandum of understanding backing Al Maliki's government on different issues, such as the Kurdish oil contracts.

Some of the political blocs, which had weakened Al Maliki's government by pulling out, are actually studying the possibility of returning.

Leaders of the Supreme Islamic Iraqi Council have stated that the alliance with the Kurds is powerless today, because of the Kurds' unrealistic demands.

Not strategic

Alliances are political tactics, conducted to achieve certain goals that cannot be strategic in nature. The alliances in the framework of the political process taking place in Iraq today are easy to break. The Iraqi Coalition Bloc started collapsing after both Al Fadila party and the Sadrist Movement pulled out. Therefore, it will not be unusual if we see a breakdown in the Kurdish alliance itself, even though it is the strongest bloc in Iraq.

The age of hidden forces mobilising the political scene in Iraq is over. The next two years of Al Maliki's government will likely see more alliances, deals, search for allies, targeting of enemies and accumulation of power.

The market for political alliances is growing constantly, as the distance between the political elite in parliament and the Iraqi people increases.

So, why is everyone keen on forming these alliances? The essence of these alliances lies in two important issues, one of which is the question of Kirkuk.

The Kurds are facing an increasing opposition to the application of article 140 of the constitution. The Kurds also feel that parliament will pull the rug from under their feet in the end. There are voices inside the unified Iraqi coalition demanding that Kirkuk become a province on its own.

This issue is acquiring an international dimension, after the UN demanded that the referendum concerning its future be postponed by six months. This demand was approved by all parties, including the Kurds, whether they liked it or not.

Kirkuk was also on Turkey's mind when it started flexing its muscles on the northern border of Iraq, on the pretext that the Kurdistan Workers Party was using it for operations against Turkey.

This issue was also on the agenda at the meeting that took place between Tarik Al Hashimi, the head of the Islamic Party, and the Turkish ambassador in Baghdad.

The second issue was the federation of the central and southern part of Iraq. The Supreme Iraqi Islamic Council is enthusiastic about this issue, while other political blocs in parliament oppose it, because they are aware it will be the first step towards the partitioning of Iraq.

These two issues are going to be the focal point of political struggle, alliances and tensions. The issues concerning the daily life of Iraqis do not concern the politicians.

Dr Mohammad Akef Jamal is an Iraqi writer based in Dubai.