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Iraqi Blocs Negotiating To Form Ruling Coalition

March 31, 2010

BAGHDAD -- Iraqi politicians say the parties that placed second and third in the March 7 parliamentary elections are in advanced talks on forming a broad ruling coalition, RFE/RL's Radio Free Iraq (RFI) reports.

Abdel Hadi al-Hassani, a leading member of Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki's State of Law bloc, told RFI that talks "are at an advanced stage."

He said the negotiations are about forming a majority coalition between the State of Law, the Iraqi National Alliance (INA) of former Prime Minister Ibrahim al-Jaafari (including the mainly Shi'ite Supreme Islamic Council of Iraq and the Sadrist Movement), and the Kurdistan Alliance.

Hassani added that talks are also under way with "some factions of the Iraqiya alliance" led by former Prime Minister Ayad Allawi.

The Iraqiya bloc was the leading vote-getter in the elections with 25.87 percent, narrowly edging out State of Law, which polled 25.76 percent of the vote. The Iraqi National Alliance finished third with 19.43 percent.

But Kurdistan Alliance member Muhsin al-Saadoun told RFI that no deal is possible without an agreement on nominating incumbent President Jalal Talabani, an ethnic Kurd, for a second term. Saadoun said "we will not agree on the next prime minister unless we reach a consensus on the president," who is elected by the parliament.

Azhar al-Sheikhly, who was elected as a member of Allawi's bloc, told RFI that Iraqiya is engaged with various factions to explore forming a broad-based alliance.

But Rashid al-Azzawi, a leading member of the Accord bloc, told RFI that "a majority coalition comprising the State of Law and the Iraqi National Alliance is as good as a done deal," while "Iraqiya is breaking up, with each of its component parts negotiating on their own behalf."

The Accord bloc, which is made up of Sunni parties, saw its strength reduced from 44 seats in the outgoing parliament to six in the new one. Iraqiya won 91 seats, the State of Law 89, and INA 70 in the 325-seat Council of Representatives.

The Supreme Federal Court ruled on March 9 that the largest coalition formed when the first session of parliament meets -- not the largest party according to the election results -- will be nominated to form a new government.

That means that although Allawi's Iraqiya bloc won the most votes, it doesn't mean he will be selected to put together a cabinet and become prime minister.

Source: http://www.rferl.org/content/Iraqi_Blocs_Negotiating_ To_Form_Ruling_Coalition/1999236.html

Copyright (c) 2010. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.