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Background Q&A: Snags Remain in Forming Iraqi Government

Council on Foreign Relations

Author: Lionel Beehner, Staff Writer
May 17, 2006

Introduction

Under the Iraqi constitution, Iraqi Prime Minister-designate Nuri al-Maliki has until May 22 to form a government. Feuding ethnic parties, Sunni-Shiite violence, and political backroom dealing have combined to prevent that result to date. Even now, some five months after the December 15 elections, the heads of the most coveted portfolios—defense and interior—still may not be named by the deadline, experts predict. Even if a national-unity government is named, they say, divisions among Iraqis now are more pronounced than ever. "The fact that it's taken them so long suggests squabbling will continue well after the government is formed," says Kenneth Katzman, senior Middle East analyst at the Congressional Research Service. "Just getting an agreement will not magically mend the bad blood." Maliki has reportedly submitted a roster of ministerial portfolios to be voted on by parliament on May 20.

Why has it taken so long to form a government?

The most divisive issue remains control of the ministries of defense and interior. Leaders of the ruling Shiite bloc, the United Iraqi Alliance (UIA), disagree among themselves over who should control these powerful portfolios. Because Maliki hails from the Dawa Party, the Supreme Council for Islamic Revolution in Iraq (SCIRI), a rival group with close ties to Iran, has sought control over the controversial interior ministry. That is unlikely to happen, experts say, because of objections by Kurds, Sunni Arabs, and the United States. The most likely candidates are independents from the UIA without ties to Shiite-led militias.

What happens if the political process continues to drag on?

According to Iraq's constitution, Maliki has thirty days after his nomination to name and ratify his cabinet.

Read the rest of this article on the cfr.org website.

Copyright 2006 by the Council on Foreign Relations. This material is republished on GlobalSecurity.org with specific permission from the cfr.org. Reprint and republication queries for this article should be directed to cfr.org.