Iraq's Fractured Parliament

The Iraqi election result clearly shows that voters have given their opinion for a coalition government. The party of former interim Prime Minister Iyad Alawi scores the largest number of seats while present Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki wins two seats less at 89. The Kurdish parties have won 43 seats, while the Iraq National Alliance has scored 70 seats. Muqtada al Sadr is also a part of this alliance. In this manner no party has gained a majority in the 435 seat Parliament.

Any one party needs to win 163 seats to form a government which neither Iyad Allawi's party nor that of Nouri al-Maliki has secured. Therefore, both will have to jump in the fray of coalition politics, and of these, whoever manages to garner the allegiance of at least 163 parliamentary members will succeed in forming the next government.

Political Vacuum
Now we have to see which party manages to head the coalition, whether it is Iyad Allawi or Nouri al-Maliki. The situation demands that whoever manages to form the government should do so soon because if this war-torn nation is without a government for a long period and this political vacuum will not be good for the country.

The departure of US troops from Iraq will also start as the US Government has hinted. According to its plan, a sizeable majority will leave Iraq for home in August, while the rest will leave by 2011 end. Hence, the delay in the formation of the new government will mean social, economic, and political chaos.

People's Confidence and Determination
As regards political chaos is concerned, this is bound to be there until the next election. Uncertainty will always be there whether the new government will last or not. Along with this, the other fear will be that whichever government comes to power, it will be able to function with full confidence and determination to complete its agenda.

In a country where factional fights are taking place every day, who can say that this will not continue in a period of coalition government, which will be weak by its very nature.

As far as social chaos is concerned, it is difficult to predict that the walls that have been erected among different communities will be torn so easily. All knows that the difference that have risen among different communities is the US work following its policy of "divide and stay on" in Iraq. These divisions that have risen in the society will affect daily life in Iraq and will definitely not help social unity.

This war-torn nation will not be able to work in a unified manner. Working in unison may not be impossible, but will definitely be very difficult. So, it will not be unnatural to see the public agitating for change. Those who have seen the horrors of war are incapable of leading a normal life. Nothing can be said about when the people will go back to their normal life.

Developing Infrastructure
As regards economic conditions, until and unless the government follows sound economic policies, it will be difficult to get the economy back on track. In a country where there are no sources of livelihood, where banking, and economic systems have collapsed and the infrastructure shattered, it will take a long time for life to get back to normal.

That is why regardless of who heads the government in Iraq the most important issue at the moment is to fill the political vacuum and the machinery of the government starts functioning again and stand on its feet.