Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki today complained that Iraqiya bloc leader Ayad Allawi was “wasting your time and delaying the political process” in trying to form a coalition government.

As Iraqiya won a plurality of the seats in the election, constitutionally speaking they have the right to the first crack at forming a coalition government. They have 91 seats to Maliki’s 89. Either side would need 163 seats to form a government.

But as Maliki’s State of Law bloc has already formed an alliance with the INA, the third place finisher in the election, it is virtually impossible for Allawi to reach 163. The two blocs combined have 159 seats, and would also have an easy road to signing up the Kurdish bloc for a clear majority.

Yet Maliki’s complaints about “delaying the political process” ring hollow after his bloc spent over two months forcing recounts and legal battles against the Iraqiya bloc, claiming “clear evidence” of fraud, only to find all those claims collapse for lack of evidence.

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