|
Iraqi president says PM critics didn't
muster majority
11.6.2012 |
|
|
|
Iraqi president (L) talks to Iraq's Prime Minister
Nuri al-Maliki during one of several planned
ceremonies to mark the end of U.S. military presence
in Iraq at Baghdad, December 1, 2011 Photo: Reuters
•
See Related Links
June 11, 2012
BAGHDAD, — Opponents of Prime Minister
Nouri al-Maliki have failed to muster enough support
to bring him down in a vote of no confidence, Iraq's
president said in a statement posted on his website
Sunday.
Al-Maliki, a Shiite, faces a growing challenge from
Sunni and Kurdish parties as well as other Shiites
within his unity government who accuse him of
monopolizing power.
But al-Maliki also has allies such as President
Jalal Talabani, a Kurd, whose office must affirm
that a petition for a no confidence vote has enough
signatures. Talabani's refusal to ratify the no
confidence campaign's letter is a setback for al-Maliki's
opponents, although the constitution gives them
other ways of trying for the vote.
Talabani has close ties to Iran, which has been
using its leverage in Iraq to keep al-Maliki in
place. Divisions among the prime minister's
opponents may also be undercutting the no confidence
push.
The failure to obtain a no confidence vote averts an
immediate political blowup, but perpetuates the
sectarian-based deadlock that has been paralyzing
the country.
Last week, the prime minister's opponents said they
sent a letter to Talabani with pledges from 176
lawmakers in the 325-member parliament , or a dozen
more than the 164 needed,www.ekurd.net
that they would vote for the prime minister's
recall.
However, Talabani said Sunday that the letter only
has 160 valid signatures. He said 13 lawmakers
informed him that they are withdrawing or suspending
their signatures. There was no immediate explanation
for the discrepancy between the 176 signatures cited
by al-Maliki's opponents and the total of 173
referred to by Talabani.
The president has urged al-Maliki and his coalition
partners to try to iron out their differences.
He said Sunday that he plans to leave for medical
treatment in Europe next week, further distancing
himself from those trying to unseat al-Maliki.
Al-Maliki's disgruntled coalition partners,
including representatives of the Sunni-dominated
Iraqiya movement, Kurdish parties and supporters of
radical Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr were meeting
Sunday in the autonomous Kurdistan region to discuss
their next move.
The current standoff, which has dragged on since
inconclusive March 2010 elections, is holding back
attempts to rebuild the country after eight years of
U.S. occupation.
Sunnis accuse al-Maliki of targeting their leaders
in politically motivated prosecutions, Kurds believe
his government is hostile to their regional
autonomy, and many Shiites feel he cuts them out of
decision-making.
But his government has also won allies through
dispensing patronage, and others think he has
provided at least some stability after years of
sectarian conflict. Iran is also believed to view
him as perhaps the only viable Iraqi national leader
at this point, a view that Washington is said to
share, according to Iraqi politicians.
Copyright ©, respective author or news agency,
AP
Top |
Kurd Net
does not take credit for and is not responsible for the
content of news information on this page
|
®
