Compromise means Iraq can move forward

The recent decision on the election law taken by the Iraqi parliament should help to move the stalled political process forward. But beyond that, the more important point is for the country to find various means to develop as a stable and democratic nation.

With the approval of a new electoral law, the Iraqi parliament has cleared the way for elections to be held early next year. The special voting session by parliamentarians was critical to end an ongoing political crisis — one that was running endlessly as much as aimlessly. With this, a date has been set for the election to take place within a few months. In addition, the parliament will expand to include a greater number of seats.

Bypassing the political deadlock is an achievement on many levels given its implications for the country in the long term. For one thing, a successful election is a prerequisite if the US is to meet its goal of starting to pull out its troops beginning next year and concluding fully by 2012.

The parliament had no choice but to break the deadlock as the challenges facing Iraq go far beyond the withdrawal of American troops. In fact, the country has to get its nation-building process back on track. The recent decision reached by the parliament is a first step that will help achieve this as it will facilitate bringing about more stability and an end to the violence that has engulfed many parts of the country for so long.

The Iraqi parliament's decision is decisive and historic given the political turmoil the country has been facing. But what is more important now is for Iraqi parliamentarians to commit to the agreement they have made and move beyond their differences and disagreements.