The results of the Iraqi provincial elections held April 20 initiated a new political balance between the main Shiite powers in Iraq’s south, particularly in Basra. These powers are the State of Law coalition led by Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, the Citizen’s Coalition led by cleric Ammar al-Hakim and the movement of religious figure Muqtada al-Sadr.
Maliki's coalition won pluralities in seven of the 12 provinces where elections were held; no elections were held in Anbar, Ninevah and Kirkuk, as well as in the three Kurdish provinces of Erbil, Sulaimaniyah and Dohuk.