ELECTIONS IN IRAQ

Many all over the world heaved a sigh of relief as the Iraqi election went off fairly peacefully on March 7. Indeed no one expects the election to solve all the outstanding issues soon. It would take years for democracy to take roots in Iraq which was under authoritarian rule for decades. All the same, the fact that people turned out to vote to elect their ruler is a positive sign indeed. Election results are to be welcomed by all as there has been no report of rigging from any part of the country.

The major political parties in the fray are the State of Law led by the incumbent Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, a group led by the anti-American cleric Moqtada al-Sadr and The Iraqi National Alliance and the Iraqi National Movement.

The State of Law of the incumbent Prime Minister who is fighting to hold on to power is facing stiff competition from his powerful opponents. The Iraqi National alliance is the main rival of the Prime Minister. Maliki had talked about the improved law and order situation in the country. However, the recent blasts that shook many cities including Baghdad disprove the claim. His government has not been successful in dealing with the water shortage in the country. He has also failed to fend off the corruption charges against him. Some have even accused him of fostering sectarianism to ensure his hold on the country.

The Iraqi National Alliance the main rival of The State of Law, is made up of Supreme Islamic Iraqi Council and the Sadrists. It enjoys the support of the Shia clerics. In the first election held in Iraq after the removal of Saddam Hussein, al-Maliki was with the United Iraqi Alliance. The alliance later came apart and Maliki joined other political formation. As the Supreme Islamic Iraqi Council is close to Iran, victory of the Alliance could cause immense problems for the Americans. The Sadrists have considerable followings as they have carried out developmental works in the cities.

The group the anti-American cleric Moqtada Al-Sadr is leading a real threat to al-Maliki. His rabid anti-Americanism has won him a vast following in the country. Al-Sadr has been campaigning for the ouster of the American army from Iraqi soil.

The Iraqi national Movement is the third contender for power. It is a coalition of secular Sunni and Shia groupings. It is led by a former interim Prime Minister Iyad Allawi. Earlier he had connections with the CIA. He has good relations with The Islamic Republic of Iran. The Americans have accused Iran of fomenting troubles in Iraq. Christopher Hill, the American Ambassador to Iraq charged Iran with trying to ‘frustrate the U.S. and Iraqi common goals’.

The Americans want the ‘The State of Law’ in the saddle. The failure of al-Maliki would jeopardize the American interests in the region. The election results would tell the future course of development of the war torn Iraq. Let us hope it will herald a new era in Iraq