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Breakthrough in Baghdad

In a departure from the previous parliament, whose legislators took more than 10 months to meet, this new house has somehow picked up momentum. After two hurriedly called off session last month, members have elected Salim Al Jabouri as speaker with a thumping majority, which indicates that a deal had been struck between all the three stakeholders of the state namely: the Shias, the Sunnis and the Kurds. Under a power-sharing formula, which has been borrowed from Lebanese hierarchy governance, the offices of prime minister, the president and the speaker, respectively, goes to each of the community, irrespective of their electoral strength on the floor of the house.

Though there is no word on the republic’s new president and the prime minister, it is widely believed that the State of Law party of Nouri Al Maliki will retain him as prime minister. Behind-the-curtain diplomatic and political developments suggest that Maliki has somehow overcome the criticism that he should step down to make room for a new and unbiased chief executive. The United States and Iran, who now share a common perception as far as fighting the ‘Islamic State’ militants are concerned, look up to Maliki as a compromise candidate. It is still not clear whether Maliki has succeeded in getting an affirmative nod from the powerful local clergy whose head Grand Ayatollah Ali Al Sistani had severely criticised him and urged him to stand down.

This time around the Kurds representatives in parliament will have a lion’s share to play as self-proclaimed Kurdish President Masood Barzani had ‘officially’ called for a referendum on seceding from Baghdad. The Kurd legislators’ influence and their inclusive politics along with the majority community will determine the fate of this house, as well as the future of the country.

Maliki, nonetheless, has no room to experiment political jingoism and indulge in sectarian bias, as was the case in his two previous eras. His third term, if he is retained, should see a national government with the cabinet nominating members from all walks of life. Only then can the state be able to fight the biggest threat to its existence as the ‘Islamic State’ knocks on the doors of Baghdad. With more than 100,000 km territory under their rule, Iraq is divided by all means of geopolitics. Moreover, the dissent voices in the Kurd regions take away another major chunk of its landmass, enough to unravel the country. This is a leadership moment for not only Maliki but also his party, which commands a majority, to look at the bigger picture and take everybody along in securing the country and pushing back the intruders. It is a task easier said than done.