Ruling in Iraq keeps haze over politics

BAGHDAD－The political gridlock continues in Iraq after the federal court rejected a demand to dissolve the parliament, complicating the already tense political scene almost 11 months after parliamentary elections last year.

The political disputes have escalated between Shiite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr's Sadrist Movement, the biggest winner with 73 seats in the parliament after the Oct 10 election, and his rivals in the Coordination Framework, or CF, an umbrella group of Shiite parliamentary parties.

Al-Sadr demanded in the past weeks that the parliament be dissolved and elections held, but his demands were rejected by the CF parties that became the largest bloc after al-Sadr ordered his followers in the Sadrist Movement to withdraw from the parliament in June.

Al-Sadr tried to resort to the Federal Supreme Court to dissolve the parliament, but the court stressed on Sept 7 in a statement that the Constitution defines its jurisdiction, which does not include the dissolution of the parliament.

The court statement also blamed the political blocs for bypassing the constitutional periods of government formation, saying it is "a violation of the constitution and a demolition of the entire political process".

Nadhum al-Jubouri, a political analyst from Salahuddin Province in northern Iraq, said the court's rejection has complicated the scene.

One scenario that al-Jubouri expects is that the CF would increase internal and external pressure on al-Sadr to accept the CF's approach of forming the next government to end the crisis, and to participate in the government in line with the Sadrist Movement's share of 73 seats in the parliament.

Another scenario suggests that al-Sadr may again resort to protest if there is no acceptable solution in the coming days, al-Jubouri said.

Hashim al-Shamaa, a researcher of political affairs at the Iraq Center for Legal Development in Baghdad, was more optimistic about reaching the end of the monthslong political gridlock.

There will be a breakthrough to the political impasse that would appease all the opposing groups after the Shiite ritual of Arbaeen, which will reach its climax on Sept 24, he said.

"The breakthrough will include, among other details, the dissolution of parliament and early elections in no more than one year," said al-Shamaa, referring to signs of progress in undeclared negotiations between the conflicting parties.

"A government led by an independent figure will be formed to satisfy all parties," al-Shamaa said.

Xinhua