What's happened
Iraq's parliament delayed its vote for a new president, with Kurdish parties nominating candidates and the Shia alliance endorsing Maliki as prime minister. The process reflects Iraq's complex power-sharing system amid regional tensions and US-Iran influence struggles. The new government formation could take months.
What's behind the headline?
Iraq's political landscape is at a critical juncture. The endorsement of Maliki by the Shia alliance signals a consolidation of power within the dominant bloc, but it also risks deepening sectarian divides. The Kurdish parties' ongoing negotiations over the presidency highlight the fragile balance of Iraq's power-sharing system. The regional context, with Iran's influence waning and US interests remaining, complicates government formation. Maliki's return, given his controversial past and close ties to Iran, will likely intensify US concerns about Iran-backed factions gaining unchecked power. The US has signaled its disapproval, emphasizing the importance of disarming Iran-backed armed groups, which are integral to Iraq's political fabric. The process could extend for months, with internal and external pressures shaping the outcome. The next government will need to navigate these tensions carefully to avoid further instability and potential resurgence of violence, especially with the ongoing threat of ISIS detainees in the region. Overall, Iraq's political future hinges on delicate negotiations amid regional power struggles, with the potential for significant implications for regional stability and US-Iran relations.
What the papers say
Al Jazeera reports that the Iraqi parliament's vote was delayed at the request of Kurdish parties, with the Kurdish KDP nominating Fuad Hussein and the PUK still negotiating over the presidency. The New Arab highlights Maliki's endorsement by the Shia alliance, emphasizing his political experience and the complexities of forming a new government amid regional tensions. Reuters notes that the move paves the way for negotiations, underscoring the fragile balance of influence between US and Iranian interests. The Independent provides context on Maliki's previous terms and the internal divisions within Iraq's political landscape, illustrating the broader regional implications of his potential return to power.
How we got here
Following Iraq's November elections, the country is in the process of forming a new government. The parliament will elect a president, who then has 15 days to appoint a prime minister. The Shia alliance, led by the Coordination Framework, endorsed Maliki, a former prime minister, as the next premier. Kurdish parties are still negotiating over the presidency, with the KDP nominating Fuad Hussein and the PUK expected to hold the post. Maliki's endorsement consolidates the Shia bloc's influence, but forming a government remains complex due to internal divisions and regional pressures.
Go deeper
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Iraq, officially the Republic of Iraq, is a country in Western Asia, bordered by Turkey to the north, Iran to the east, Kuwait to the southeast, Saudi Arabia to the south, Jordan to the southwest and Syria to the west.
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Nouri Kamil Muhammad-Hasan al-Maliki, also known as Jawad al-Maliki or Abu Esraa, is secretary-general of the Islamic Dawa Party and was the prime minister of Iraq from 2006 to 2014 and the vice president of Iraq from 2014 to 2015 and 2016 to 2018.