This blog post was published on January 30 2012. §
Al-Iraqiya ends parliament boycott, a new split?
With “Iraqiya List” decision to back to the parliament and still boycotting the Govt, it seems that Ayad Allawi’s Coalition decided to go to the parliamentary opposition.
This decision will be announced within the coming days, but the List will pay a heavy price which will lead to a split among its blocs since the Parliament speaker Osama Al-Nujaifi (one of the important Al-Iraqiya leaders) according to his position which represents can not allows him to side in the opposition’s trench.
The final calculation reveals the following:
The head of the list, Iyad Allawi, the Deputy Prime Minister Saleh al-Mutlaq, and Finance Minister Rafie al-Issawi, Communications Minister Muhammad Tawfiq Allawi, will join the opposition side (the last two should leave their positions as ministers). Others such as Nujaifi and Karbuli (head of Al-Hal Bloc) will stay in Govt.
Two opinions on Al-Iraqiya move:
First, This move will increase the political polarization of sectarian tension.
Second, This move may open a way for a cross-sectarian alliance with the creation of parliamentery body that will monitor the performance of the government.