Political deadlock in Iraq: Struggle over key positions

Pars Today – As the first session of Iraq’s new parliament approaches, the country’s political parties remain divided and indecisive over final candidates for the posts of Parliament Speaker, President, and Prime Minister.

According to the law, the new parliament must first elect the Speaker, then the President, and finally the Prime Minister tasked with forming the government. However, complex negotiations, domestic calculations, and external pressures have made this process highly challenging.

According to Pars Today, among the Sunni groups, efforts are underway to reduce internal disagreements and prevent the recurrence of divisive scenarios. However, progress in nominating a candidate for Parliament Speaker is tied to the Shia “Coordination Framework’s” stance on the Prime Ministership.

Within the “Coordination Framework”, the main competition is between Mohammed Shia al-Sudani (current Prime Minister) and Nouri al-Maliki (former Prime Minister), with reports indicating at least 27 candidates being proposed for the position. This decision-making is influenced by power balances within the coalition as well as regional considerations.

Among the Kurdish groups, disagreements over the Presidency reflect deeper divisions regarding relations with Baghdad and issues such as oil and budget allocations.

The political scene in Iraq appears to be in a state of “mutual waiting,” with each faction awaiting the decisions of others, resulting in delays and significant uncertainty in forming the new government.