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Time to seize the election mood in iraq
More and more parties see an advantage in letting the ballot box lead for the moment
- Gulf News
- Published: 23:35 January 5, 2009
The underlying struggle in Iraqi politics is to shape the emerging constitution in a way that suits the political parties' aims and desires to get and retain power. The broad theoretical discussions about achieving representational democracy are closely examined as to how they might support or hinder every politician's ambitions. More transparent democracy was an American demand, but American influence over events in Iraq was reduced dramatically when George W. Bush signed off on the Status of Forces Agreement with no firm conditions on Iraq to introduce reform.
However, within Iraq, several events in early 2009 should start to set the tone. The elections for the regional assemblies are due to be held soon and they will force the parliament to finalise the boundaries and powers of the regions. The dispute over the boundaries of the Kurdish-dominated regions should not delay things in the rest of the country.
Prime Minister Nouri Al Maliki and his Dawa Party are in favour of a strong central government, although even he will need to walk carefully around Kurdish ambitions for autonomy. But Al Maliki keeps his parliamentary majority through an enduring alliance with Abdul Aziz Al Hakim's Supreme Islamic Iraqi Council despite its strong support for a weaker central government and strong regions in a federal Iraq. Nonetheless, as Al Maliki gains authority within Iraq, more Iraqi politicians see him as the man with whom they will have to reckon for the foreseeable future. The delicate balance which is Iraqi politics could easily descend into chaos once more, but more and more political parties (some backed by militias or tribal forces) see an advantage in letting the ballot box lead for the moment. The challenge will be to convert this tactical move into a permanent political fact.
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