Oscar for the Integrity of Iraqi Elections (Sotaliraq, March 10, 2010)
The Iraqi Election Commission will announce the results of the elections today.
The representatives of the various political parties are present round the clock during the counting of the votes, and they have become the major source of leaks about the projected results.
It is evident that the Iraqi National Alliance, comprising the pro-Iranian Supreme Islamic Council and the Sadrists, will be relegated to third place. In fact, a spokesman for the Alliance has conceded that the alliance was trailing Al-Maliki's State of Law in most provinces, "but not by much," and threatened to appeal the results if they showed his alliance falling much below Al-Maliki.
The biggest surprise of the elections would perhaps be the emergence of Al-Iraqiyya, headed by Ayyad Allawi as the alliance with the largest seats in parliament. Either Al-Maliki or Allawi could be the leading candidate to form a new coalition government.
The Kuwaiti daily Al-Qabas reported that Iran has lifted its veto over Allawi assuming the post of prime minister. In an interview with the Kuwaiti daily Al-Watan, Allawi stated that in the event he becomes a prime minister, he will maintain "good and normal relations with Iran." He said he had no conflict with the country or its rulers, but emphasized the historical ties between Iraq and the rest of Iraq's neighbors. Allawi has also declared that he was prepared to enter into an alliance with Al-Maliki for "the service of Iraq."
However, Allawi may find himself in hot water with the Kurdish parties, because three of the leaders of his group have expressed the opinion that the next president of Iraq should be an Arab, in conformity with the Arab nature and milieu of the country. The Kurds have rebutted the statement, declaring that the constitution makes no such distinction. The issue, however, is evolving into a conflict between the Kurds and the Sunnis over the post of the president of the republic. Nevertheless, one can hardly envisage a new governing coalition without the Kurdish parties being part of it.
A new government in Iraq must meet the aspirations of the Iraqis for the restoration of peace and security and for the provision of vital services such as electricity, potable water, and infrastructure, broadly speaking. The new government must also assure the oil companies that entered into service agreements with the outgoing government to develop Iraq's oil resources that it would honor the agreements.
As we pointed out yesterday, the biggest loser in the elections is Ahmad Chalabi, who has turned into a major collaborator with the Islamic Republic of Iran. His prospects of becoming prime minister are not great, although he retains the power over the Justice and Accountability Commission to create political havoc. It will be hardly surprising if the new parliament does not put that commission out to pasture.
Sources: Al-Qabas, Al-Watan, Kuwait, March 10, 2010; www.baghdadtimes.net.Arabic/index.php?sid=50182, March 10; Al-Hayat, London, March 10; Al-Zaman, March 11, 2010
