Iraq’s Shi’ite MPs Preparing to Replace Maliki

Even Allies See Him as Too Divisive

Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki remains stubborn about holding his premiership, but he may not have a choice in the matter as growing numbers of Shi’ite MPs, including members of his own State of Law Party, are drawing up plans for a post-Maliki distribution of power.

Parliament will be reconvening next week, likely on Tuesday, and will be choosing a new parliamentary speaker, setting in motion the election of a new president and eventually a new premier.

Sunnis and Kurds have opposed a third term for Maliki, and most foreign powers have also come out against him since the recent ISIS gains across western Iraq, believing a less contentious figure would be more able to secure Kurdish and Sunni Arab support for fighting ISIS.

Maliki, for his part, maintains that he is the only person strong enough to defeat ISIS, and has spun calls for unity by top figures as calls to unite behind him personally, and his continued rule.

Author: Jason Ditz

Jason Ditz is Senior Editor for Antiwar.com. He has 20 years of experience in foreign policy research and his work has appeared in The American Conservative, Responsible Statecraft, Forbes, Toronto Star, Minneapolis Star-Tribune, Providence Journal, Washington Times, and the Detroit Free Press.