Iraqi Political Factions Trying to Build Coalition: Politician

“Our political view is to create national coalition and convergence with the country’s other political groups. Based on that attitude, we could win the most parliament seats,” Seyed Mahmoud al-Mayali told the Tasnim News Agency.

The Shiite-led State of Law Coalition won the majority of seats in Iraq’s parliamentary election in April.

Meanwhile, the new parliament is meeting on Tuesday for the first time since election to select the country’s next prime minster.

Former prime minister, Nouri al-Maliki, coming from the State of Law Coalition, has stayed on as caretaker leader since the April parliamentary polls. He is pushing to confirm himself in power for a third term.

Elsewhere in his interview with Tasnim, Mayali said the Iraqi political parties have not so far reached consensus about the configuration of a new government.

Meetings and discussions are underway to reach a compromise, he said, explaining that the Arab country’s Constitution explicitly requires that the prime minister be chosen from the faction with the majority of seats.

Mayali then noted that the chances are low for the new parliament’s session to form the new government on Tuesday.

“However, general agreements might be reached and negotiations for the government formation will be adjourned,” he noted.

Asked about the possibility of Maliki being elected the next prime minister, Mayali said, “Maliki might be present in the new government. Because his party has garnered the most seats in parliament.”

Under Iraq's governing system put in place after the fall of former dictator Saddam Hussein, the prime minister has always been a Shiite Muslim, the largely ceremonial president a Kurd and the speaker of parliament a Sunni Muslim.

After the last election in 2010, it took nearly 10 months for Maliki to build a coalition to stay in office.