Allawi's Party Wins in Iraq

[Admiral Yi]

Baghdad, Iraq (CNN) -- Ayad Allawi's Iraqiya coalition won the most seats in Iraq's parliamentary elections, according to results issued Friday by Iraqi election officials.

Allawi's bloc edged out Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki's State of Law coalition by two seats in the final count of Iraq's March 7 national election for the 325-member parliament, the officials said.

Allawi's bloc won 91 seats and the State of Law coalition gained 89. The Iraqi National Alliance, dominated by Shiite parties, got 70 seats and a Kurdish alliance got 43.

Now Allawi needs to begin the tough work of gathering at least 163 seats to forge a coalition government.

Allawi, who served as prime minister in 2004, is a secular Shiite whose bloc includes prominent Sunni Arab politicians, including Vice President Tariq al-Hashimi.

Al-Maliki has asked for a manual recount as members of his State of Law coalition and other blocs have alleged voter fraud as the margin of votes separating the candidates has narrowed.

He has pledged to appeal the results to the federal court.

"The electoral commission refused our demand for a manual recount and insisted on refusing despite the demand of the president and my demands as a prime minister and the commander in chief of the armed forces," al-Maliki told reporters. "The reasons behind their refusal were unknown."

In a joint statement, U.S. Ambassador Christopher R. Hill and Gen. Ray Odierno, commanding general of U.S. forces in Iraq, congratulated the Independent High Electoral Commission on completing the vote counting.

"With today's announcement, Iraq successfully passed another milestone in this historic electoral process," they said. "We support the findings of international and independent Iraqi observers, who have affirmed their confidence in the overall integrity of the election and have found that there is no evidence of widespread or serious fraud."

That view was echoed by U.S. State Department spokesman Philip J. Crowley. Though the electoral commission has investigated and adjudicated a number of complaints, "international observers and the more than 200,000 domestic observers expressed their confidence in the overall integrity of the election and have found that there is no evidence of widespread or serious fraud," he said.

But the process is expected to take months, he said. Political entities may appeal to the Electoral Judicial Panel. After the appeals have been resolved, Iraq's Federal Supreme Court will certify the results. "Iraq will then move to seating a new Council of Representatives, choosing a president and forming a new government," Crowley said.

He called for all candidates and parties to accept the results, "refrain from inflammatory rhetoric and intimidation" and work to form a new government.

http://www.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/meast/03/26/iraq.election/index.html?hpt=T2

I'm glad Allawi won, but I don't see who he's supposed to form a coalition with.

[grumbler]

I'm glad Allawi won, but I don't see who he's supposed to form a coalition with.

My guess is the Kurds.  al-Maliki could be a very effective opposition leader, if he keeps his cool.  He irritated a lot of people by being a powerful Prime Minister, and could be one again, if he plays the game.

[Admiral Yi]

My guess is the Kurds.

Which gets him to 134 out of 163.

[Fate]

State of Law (Maliki's party) + National Iraqi Alliance (Sadr and friends) + Kurdish List could hold a majority.



Iraqi Election Goes Dwon to the Wire

[The Brain]

MISSION ACCOMPLISHED

[grumbler]

My guess is the Kurds.

Which gets him to 134 out of 163.

True, but then it is just picking off members of poorly-organized "parties" to get the last few votes.  There are only three real parties in the elections; the rest were just coalitions.

[Viking]

Maliki now has the opportunity to do his country the greatest service ever. Conceding the election. I suspect that Allawi, Maliki and non-Reform Kurds make a deal.

[grumbler]

State of Law (Maliki's party) + National Iraqi Alliance (Sadr and friends) + Kurdish List could hold a majority.

True, but they don't get a chance until Alawi concedes defeat, and he won't deal with the Sadr alliance. I don't see a real problem for Alawi to form a government.

A unity government is also possible.  Alawi is nothing if not a pragmatist, and al-Maliki has overall been known for pragmatism.

[Martinus]

I'm curious why all these guys are named Al.

[Camerus]

IIRC, it has to do with the popularity of Married with Children in the late '80's and '90s.



Ohhh, Al!

[Martinus]

I loved that show. 

[Agelastus]

I loved that show. 

So did my mother...interesting...

[Razgovory]

I loved that show. 

So did my mother...interesting...

It was a funny show.

[Syt]

I loved that show. 

So did my mother...interesting...

It was a funny show.

It still is. I run through the seasons every couple months.

[The Brain]

It was that documentary that taught me about America.