Iraq’s secular political party, which won the recent election, faces a new challenge after two minority Shi'a Muslim parties announced a coalition.
The coalition between the Iraqi National Alliance and The State of Law bloc, led by incumbent Prime Minister Nouri Maliki, will fall short of the minimum seats needed to form a government.
However it will deal a blow to the Iraqiya bloc, led by former Prime Minister Iayd Allawi, which won a two-seat victory in the recent elections.
“An agreement was reached to form the largest parliamentary bloc through the union of the two blocs,” said Abdul Razzaq al-Kadhami, an adviser to Ibrahim Jaafari—the leading candidate to become the next prime minister.
“The most important thing is to form an Iraqi government, to establish a government program and to nominate the next prime minister,” he said.
The coalition between the Iraqi National Alliance and The State of Law bloc, led by incumbent Prime Minister Nouri Maliki, will fall short of the minimum seats needed to form a government.
However it will deal a blow to the Iraqiya bloc, led by former Prime Minister Iayd Allawi, which won a two-seat victory in the recent elections.
“An agreement was reached to form the largest parliamentary bloc through the union of the two blocs,” said Abdul Razzaq al-Kadhami, an adviser to Ibrahim Jaafari—the leading candidate to become the next prime minister.
“The most important thing is to form an Iraqi government, to establish a government program and to nominate the next prime minister,” he said.