Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki seeks to dissolve parliament while maintaining his government in order to oversee early elections. In response, Sunni Arab and Kurdish political forces in parliament, in addition to Shiite leader Muqtada al-Sadr’s movement, intend to sack the government and prevent the dissolution of parliament or the formation of an interim government to oversee early elections.

Both options were passionately discussed at political gatherings and media roundtables, yet it seems there is no way to reach a political consensus as the conflict between the parties enters its critical stages.

Despite the fact that Maliki still entertains the option of keeping the political situation the same as it is today until the elections at the beginning of 2014, there is a fair chance that violence could erupt, especially in light of escalating and widespread protests.

Maliki's rivals wish to prevent any elections, especially on the local level next March, from taking place under the current government. They accuse the government of not only abusing state powers to aid the State of Law Coalition, led by Maliki’s party, but also of doctoring nearly one million votes from military and police forces in favor of Maliki. Moreover, for the past three years Maliki has been tightening his grasp on the defense, interior and intelligence ministries, in addition to the National Security Advisory, by directly overseeing their activities and handpicking their leaders based on their loyalty to him.