(MENAFN- Kuwait News Agency (KUNA)) The Iraqi political rivals' negotiations over forming the new government go round in circles and its scenarios are neither applicable nor acceptable due to the inflexibility of the National Alliance parties.
As the deadline, made by President Foad Ma'soum, to form the government is about to elapse, the new government will not be formed without hard and long marathon of political negotiations and concessions.
The battle over the post may include bone-breaking game and mixing of political and security files.
According to Iraqi Constitution Article 76, the President of the Republic shall ask the nominee of the largest Council of Representatives bloc to form the cabinet within fifteen days from the date of the election of the president of the republic.
So the new cabinet should be formed by August 7, however there is disagreement over which is the largest Council of Representatives bloc. It seems that the State of Law Coalition, headed by Prime Minister Nouri Al-Maliki, reneged on its declaration last month, of naming National Alliance, which includes several Shiite parties, as the largest bloc at the Council of Representative. State of Law Coalition has exploited that the National Alliance's failure to officially register itself in the first parliamentary session to talk about the renege on the declaring despite the fact that the National Alliance had nominated Haider Al-Abadi, a leading figure in Al-Maliki Coalition, as First Deputy of Speaker.
However, Ihsan Al-Awadi, a senior leader in the State of Law Coalition, said that Federal Court pointed out that the bloc with the largest number of MPs is the one entitled to choose the nominee for Prime Minister post.
He added that the National Alliance bloc has not been registered and the State of Law Coalition is the still the largest parliamentary bloc.
He reiterates that the National Alliance parties are waiting for a decision of presidency of Council of Representatives about naming the largest bloc in order to choose the candidate for premiership. He pointed out that the coalition will not take any decision without the alliance.
Al-Awadi added that the State of Law coalition candidate for premiership post could achieve a "national consensus" called by Shiite clerics and it (the coalition) is the largest bloc. This means it is the body that should candidate prime minister, he pointed out.
Yet, Ammar Al-Hakim, the head of the Islamic Supreme Council and a prominent figure of National Alliance, told the National Forces Alliance, an alliance for Sunni parties, in a meeting that he does not agree on the re-election of Al-Maliki for a third-term in office.
MP Yassin Majeed, a prominent figure in the State of Law Coalition, however, said that the blocs don't want a strong Prime Minister so they reject naming Al-Maliki as a premier. Majeed accused certain political blocs of delaying government formation and keeping Iraq in security and political chaos.
He also accused some countries of supporting those blocs to destroy democracy in Iraq.
But if the State of Law Coalition insists on splitting from National Alliance and nominating Al-Maliki to a third-term, this scenario will paralyze political life over another month.
Al-Maliki has been accused for many years that he ignores parliament, excludes political partners, takes security and political decisions lonely and seizes many political and security posts.
There are many political, constitutional and personal reasons behind expanding power of prime minister in the era of Al-Maliki.
According to Iraqi Constitution Article 66, the federal executive power shall consist of the President of the Republic and the Council of Ministers and shall exercise its powers in accordance with the Constitution and the law. It means that the executive power is not based only on the post of Prime Minister. When president Jalal Talabani was sick, Al-Maliki exploited this and seized power of the President.
The Articles 78 stipulates that the Prime Minister is the direct executive authority responsible for the general policy of the State and the commander-in-chief of the armed forces. He directs the Council of Ministers, presides over its meetings, and has the right to dismiss the Ministers, with the consent of the Council of Representatives.
Many political forces are struggling for the post of Prime Minister due to its great role and power more than considering in a national partnership that could guarantee a better future to the state.
After Al-Maliki's coalition was announced that it has got the largest votes, it was circulated that he (Maliki) content with being only a political leader for the National Alliance, as he is the largest winner in the last elections, and will name another candidate either from his coalition or form the alliance provided to implement the government program planned by him.
Yet, Al-Maliki is not convinced with being a political leader and seeks to run for a third-term period. Due to this move, many partners and opponents presented other candidates.
As a result, the State of Law Coalition, headed by Al-Maliki, presented candidates namely Chief of Staff for Al-Maliki Tariq Najm, Deputy Prime Minister for Energy Affairs Hussain Al-Shahristani and Vice President of Iraq Khodair Al-Khozaei.
Sources in the coalition say that Al-Shahristani has a big chance to be the Prime Minister as he is the favorite candidate for many MPs.
Al-Maliki's request to run for a third-term period affected relations among components of 'National Alliance', which includes four other blocs. They all reject the idea of Al-Maliki nomination.
In a Friday sermon, Ali Al-Sistani, the highest-ranking Shiite cleric in Iraq, called on Al-Maliki indirectly not to run for a third-term. He called for a consensus candidate for the post of Prime Minister.
Parliament remains the only gate to Prime Minister-designate to form the government. The parliament not the president should determine candidate for the post.
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