Iraqi Political Maneuverings

Among the sovereign ministries, Oil appears to be the biggest prize, with all three blocks angling for it. The current oil minister, Hussain al-Shahristani, is part of Maliki’s State of Law coalition.

“Of course we are thinking of the Oil Ministry,” said Kamal Saidi, MP and top ally of Maliki, “But will the political agreement allow this?”

When asked if the Kurdistan Alliance will get the spot, Kurdish President Massoud Barzani said, “It’s not sure yet.”

Although the Kurdistan Alliance said shortly after the election that it would back whatever prime minister candidate the Shiite parties choose, it has also submitted its own long list of demands, which include the resolution of long-standing territorial disputes – a reconciliation mandated by Article 140 of the Iraqi Constitution.

The Kurds are also seeking resolution of more than 30 oil deals signed with foreign oil companies, which they signed in defiance of Baghdad’s claims of sole authority over the oil sector.

“All the issues that were important to the KRG were accepted,” Barzani said. “Article 140, the KRG contracts, the hydrocarbons law, were all agreed to. A program and the action plan of the government will be based on that.”

Also on the docket is the National Council for Higher Policies, the policymaking entity which was to be a savior of the political process by creating an important post for Allawi and providing a potential check on Maliki’s powers as prime minister. Such a body will be more symbolic than substantive, however, unless it receives authority by an act of Parliament.

“It is not a sovereign council; it is a political council,” explained Dabbagh. “But the heads of the political blocks agreed to form this body in order to take part in making the decision.”

The council would function, said Dabbagh, by creating policies which, pending the approval of Parliament, “all the other state institutions will be committed to implement it. For example, if it is for the interest of Iraq to extend a gas pipeline from Iran through Iraq to Syria or other countries, it is part of the work of this council to decide whether to extend, for the interest of Iraq, to extend or not, according to the mechanisms.”

Iraq Oil Report