No doubt that Maliki’s chances for a second term are in decline if not close to zero, take for example today’s report on Al-Hayat: Washington invited Barzani, Abdul Mahdi and Hashimi for talks with Obama and Biden (all the three are Maliki’s opponents). Another example is Elaph’s report today saying: Sistani hold Maliki responsible for Shiite Unity split — Sistani also gave instructions to his deputies not to promote Maliki in the religious ceremonies.
The statement released after a meeting held between President of Kurdistan region, Massoud Barzani, and the leader of the Supreme Council Ammar Al-Hakim in Salah Al-Din summer resort proposed the idea of the establishment of a broad-based National Front between the two political blocs, stressing on the importance to intensify efforts for the success of the coming elections.
The above text put together for the media consumption, in reality this meeting is a major event and a clever move made by Ammar Al-Hakim, much bigger than the formation of “broad-based National Front”, especially since the Justice and Accountability’s decision of the exclusion of candidates had turned the electoral exceptions significantly.
The idea to dissolve rival coalitions by the Justice and Accountability Committee paves the way for the emergence of a new coalitions and alliances. Iyad Allawi for example is the biggest winner in this recent crisis, which put him at the front of his list instead of sharing the “image” with Mutlaq. If the Justice and Accountability Committee insists on its decision to ban Mutlaq, all Mutlaq’s votes will go to Allawi.
Maliki’s “State of Law” depends on his name only, and in an “open-list” based election system. The decision made by the Justice and Accountability Committee has provided Allawi (and Bolani) with major free publicity, and a powerful force to go head to head against Maliki.
Most likely, that Iyad Allawi will be part of Barzani– Hakim “project” in the future for these reasons:
- The relation between Barzani and Allawi is very good.
- The relation between Allawi’s bloc and Al-Hakim’s bloc are non-intersectional.
- Opposing Maliki’s second term as aPrime Minister is the common goal among the three political blocs.
- Al-Hakim’s advantage of winning the Sadrists in Allawi’s coalition.
The political map is changed, and a new coalitions and alliances started to emerge.
[…] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Wladimir Wilgenburg , Arabic-News. Arabic-News said: post: New alliances and a new political scene is emerging http://bit.ly/7ZCzlv […]