Identity Politics Freezes Baghdad

BAGHDAD, Iraq — Iraq’s parliament faces an uphill battle in nominating the country’s new leadership, analysts say, as MPs square off firmly along sectarian and ethnic lines.

Sunni Arab and Kurdish MPs walked out after Shiite lawmakers failed to nominate a candidate for prime minister during Iraq’s first parliamentary session this week. The session, which was focused on nominating a new parliament speaker and government, was perhaps the most critical since the fall of Saddam Hussein’s regime. Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, who is seeking re-election, is facing unprecedented opposition after eight years in office as Islamic extremists and Sunni tribes take over cities and the Kurds are openly talking about breaking away from Iraq.

A political source close to parliament said the Shiite National Alliance, which holds the most seats and includes Maliki’s Dawa Party, had agreed that Maliki would be their pick as prime minister; Salim al-Jibouri of the Sunni Arab National Accordance Front would be nominated parliament speaker; and former deputy prime minister Barham Salih as president. The Ministry of Interior was slated for Baqir Jabr Solagh from the Shiite Islamic Supreme Council of Iraq party.

“When the political blocs found out about this scenario they decided to walkout out and leave the session," the source said.

Iraq’s political alliances have long fallen along ethnic and sectarian lines, but MPs appear to be even more firmly entrenched in identity politics as Iraq faces major crises. Iraq’s parliament has never been especially effective — votes were few and far between because not enough MPs would show up, for example — and analysts don’t expect much more from this set of representatives.

"The new parliament doesn’t offer anything new,” said political analyst Mohammed al-Faisal. “It’s a replica of the tragedies of the previous legislative sessions with all of its conflicts and without a national identity, which in the past few years has caused the political process to fail.”

“Many politicians and lawmakers work within the framework and ideology of their own ethnic and sectarian groups,” he added.

Political bickering and the boycott by Sunni Arabs and Kurds “shows that the political groups have decided to disregard the current security and political challenges, which disappointed the people who were expecting a session that would solve the country’s issues: to stand united against terrorism and eradicate sectarianism, boost the economy, improve services and many other important issues. The parliament has killed the hope of many citizens for the sake of narrow political interests.”

Although the embattled prime minister is the main target of the opposition, the issue isn’t just Maliki. In a press conference, Muhammad Kiyani, an MP from the Kurdish Change Movement, accused al-Jibouri of harboring prejudice against Kurds.

“Al-Jibouri isn’t the right person for the post of the speaker of the parliament because of his nationalistic outbursts and stance against the interests of the Kurds during parliamentary sessions,” he said. “He claims he’s a member of an Islamic party, but his positions reflect his chauvinistic and biased attitude.”

Parliament is unlikely to meet again for at least a week, leaving the country in a political crisis while Maliki acts as caretaker prime minister despite widespread opposition by Sunni Arabs and Kurds. Maliki has refused the idea of a national unity government that would include Sunnis and Kurds in his cabinet as well.

The United States, the United Nations, Iran and Shiite clerics in Iraq have pressed Iraqi politicians to form an inclusive government representing all groups in order to save the country while Sunni insurgents march toward Baghdad.

Analyst Muhammad al-Zaidi said, “The National Alliance, which has the majority in the parliament, needs to find a new leader for the next government.”

He maintained that regardless of political infighting, foreign powers have more influence in Baghdad.

“There is a reality that all the parties are dealing with, which is the fact that the political process in Iraq has been under international influence for more than a decade,” al-Zaidi said. “This means that Maliki’s third term isn’t dependent on his ability to win the parliamentary majority required to form a government, nor on the ability of his opponents, but rather on the agreement between Tehran and Washington to slice up the pie. The US is trying to make strategic gains at the expense of Iran, and Iran certainly won’t give the US what it wants easily. This means the next stage in Iraq will be a difficult one.”