Iraqi leaders seek democratic means to form government

By Albert Youssef in Baghdad
For Al-Shorfa.com
2010-04-02

[Muhannad Fala'ah /Getty Images] Former Iraqi Prime Minister Iyad Allawi.

With ratification of the final parliamentary election results approaching, Iraqi politicians are calling for all sides to follow the Iraqi constitution and democratic process for the peaceful transfer of authority.

"Most of the blocs that won seats in the next parliament have shared visions and common goals, which is to not waste time during the process to form of the government," Abdul Hadi al-Hassani, a senior leader in Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki's State of Law coalition, said.

"The winning political blocs, which are likely to form the government, have to seriously think about how to transfer authority from one side to another without any problems," he added.

According to the results announced by the Independent High Electoral Commission (IHEC), al-Iraqiyah coalition led by former Prime Minister Ayad Allawi came in first place after winning 91 seats. State of Law coalition came in second place with 89 seats, the Iraqi National Alliance in third with 71, and the Kurdish Coalition in fourth with 42.

The Iraqi constitution stipulates that the transfer of authority will occur when the incumbent president calls the new parliament to convene within 15 days after Iraq's Supreme Federal Court ratifies the final election results. Afterwards, the parliament shall elect a new president, who in turn will ask the largest parliamentary bloc to nominate a new prime minister.

On March 25th, the Supreme Federal Court announced that Article 76 of the Iraqi constitution states that the bloc with the largest number of seats after forming coalitions within the new parliament --not the bloc that won the largest number of seats in the election -- has the right to nominate the head of the next Iraqi government.

"The meetings between political blocs and the exchange of views and negotiations, especially the recent meetings between the State of Law coalition and al-Iraqiyah, refute the likelihood of a confusing or incorrect transfer of authority," al-Hassani added.

Rafie al-Issawi, deputy prime minister and a member of al-Iraqiyah, met with Nouri al-Maliki Thursday. Al-Issawi conveyed a message from the leadership of al-Iraqiyah about opening direct dialogue with the State of Law coalition, and about forming a delegation to overcome any obstacles impeding the formation of the next government.

In a press conference held after his meeting with al-Maliki, al-Issawi said the visit "complements similar meetings with the Iraqi National Alliance and preliminary talks with the Kurdish Coalition. This is a message from al-Iraqiyah to all political blocs to the effect that al-Iraqiyah is ready to negotiate about the possibility of entering into a partnership. Everyone hopes for just one thing, which is to form a national coalition government without delay."

Ahmed Anwar, a leader of the Kurdish Coalition and a member of the former parliament, said Iraq is now a state of institutions, and "everything goes according to a certain law, including the transfer of authority in the country."

"The fears about not transferring authority peacefully are just media storms aimed at undermining the political process and confusing the Iraqi street," Anwar said. "This is because all the lists that won in the election will be decision-makers and will have a say in the political process in Iraq," he added.

Intifadh Qanbar, an Iraqi National Alliance leader, said most of the political blocs in Iraq seek through their meetings and negotiations to avoid any problems that may affect the security situation in Iraq.

"Therefore, they are willing to transfer authority peacefully, even if it is not in their favour," he said.

"The previous government managed to establish the main principles for the constitution and key laws in the country, and to make all political blocs, whether in the opposition or in the government, abide by them. This will make the transfer of authority from any side to another an easy thing that does not need to go through obstacles that can lead to agitation in the Iraqi street," he added.

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