Fact Sheet: Iraqi Politics & Security Update

 Just four days before the first session of the new parliament, on June 10, 2010, the Iraqi National Alliance (INA) and the State of Law coalition (SoL) officially announced the name of their alliance termed the “National Alliance.”

·         The post-electoral formation of the National Alliance has created a bloc of 159 seats just four short of a simple majority in Iraq’s 325-seat Parliament.

·         Though the INA and SoL have agreed to a common name, they have yet to select their nominee for Prime Minister. The blocs are deeply divided over this matter, suggesting the fragility of the alliance.

Yet, the announcement did not end the controversy over the “largest bloc.”

·         Article 76 of the Iraqi Constitution gives the first right of government formation to the “nominee of the largest Council of Representatives bloc with the formation of the Council of Ministers.”

·         Iraqiyah maintains that the “largest bloc” is the electoral list that won the highest number of seats in the election; however, the INA and SoL have argued that it is the post-election alliance with the largest number of seats.