The absence of the opposition dismantles the coordination framework and paves the way for al-Maliki’s return to power

The absence of the opposition dismantles the coordination framework and paves the way for al-Maliki’s return to power

8-27-2023

BAGHDAD – The leader of the State of Law coalition, Nuri al-Maliki, renewed the importance of holding local council elections for the governorates on the scheduled date of December 18, amid signs that his coalition will enter these elections within the framework of an aspiration aimed at preparing for his return to power if parliamentary elections are held within the next year.

Observers say that the disintegration of the Coordinating Framework forces into three “tactically competing” alliances takes advantage of the fact that the elections will be held without a serious competitor on the part of the opposition, after a number of civil forces announced their refusal to participate due to the lack of opportunities for the power of money and weapons, and after making sure that The Sadrist movement will boycott the elections, which provides an opportunity for each of the main parties in the framework to test its own capabilities, in order to base its future political opportunities on it.

Al-Maliki called on his supporters to “prepare and actively participate in choosing someone to represent them in the provincial councils.” Officials in the State of Law coalition say that they are seeking to win the leadership of at least five southern provinces, and gain great influence in Baghdad, as well as aspiring to win at least 200 seats out of the total of 450 seats in the provincial councils in which elections are held.

◙ The absence of competitors provides an opportunity for al-Maliki to advance the ranks again in an attempt to paint another image for himself

And if this matter is actually achieved, then it will pave the way for al-Maliki’s return to be the biggest player in deciding whether the government of Muhammad Shia al-Sudani can continue in its current term, or return to serve as a transitional government, as it was described when it began, in preparation for early elections that can take place. By the end of next year, or mid-2025 at the latest.

Al-Maliki is betting that the State of Law coalition’s progress in the local council elections, the first since 2013, will provide him with powerful electoral tools that justify his return as a major force in the upcoming elections, which means his return to become a candidate for the position of prime minister.

In the previous local elections, in 2013, Al-Maliki won about 120 seats and 5 governors, but the dissolution of these councils in 2019 following the popular uprising against the sectarian system made the State of Law coalition lose its ability in the elections that took place in October 2020 to gain a sufficient majority. In order for al-Maliki to impose himself for the position of prime minister, despite the fact that the rule of law remained the largest force among the parties to the coordination framework.

But the absence of competitors, in light of what al-Maliki considers political stability, provides him with the opportunity to advance the ranks again in an attempt to paint another image for himself.

Observers say that al-Maliki succeeded, under al-Sudani’s government, in creating another image for the parties represented in the coordination framework, overturning the previous prevailing image of them as militias of corruption and subservience to Iran, to appear now as if they were parties competing on political programs and sponsoring reconstruction projects.

On this basis, Al-Maliki wants to overturn his personal image, which was associated with his power between 2006 and 2014, when it was the power of political chaos, assassinations, mass arrests, and administrative corruption that led to the loss of hundreds of billions of dollars in oil revenues, in projects that were not completed, or money was spent on them that did not start from scratch. Basis.

During the last period, Al-Maliki received several visits from US Ambassador Alina Romanowski, the last of which was on the 16th of this month, with the intention of re-introducing Al-Maliki as a reliable statesman.

Al-Maliki’s media office stated that he reviewed with Romanowski “the future of bilateral relations between the two countries, as well as the recent visit of the Iraqi security delegation to Washington and the keenness of Baghdad and Washington to activate the terms of the strategic framework agreement according to a specific timetable.”

Al-Maliki took the opportunity to indicate in this meeting that “the political and security stability in the country will contribute to the resumption of the process of reconstruction and construction and the entry of major foreign companies, calling on American companies to work in Iraq, especially in the field of energy.”

As for the absence of the Sadrist movement, it became decisive, when an official close to Muqtada al-Sadr announced last Thursday that the leader of the movement had “resolved the issue of the Sadrists not participating in the provincial elections, and the Sadrists will not have any electoral list and will not support any of the electoral lists.”

The same official said, “The issue of the Sadrist movement’s participation in the Parliament elections during the coming period has not been resolved until now. This file has not been discussed between Sadr and those close to him, and it is too early to resolve this issue, especially in light of the absence of any real direction for early parliamentary elections.” .

According to the Electoral Commission, 198 parties will run in the local council elections alone without alliances, while alliances will include 296 parties, despite the end of the deadline for registering alliances last week.

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