Has political crisis in Iraq's Anbar reached a dead end?
As the political crisis continues in Anbar province, the upcoming council election has been postponed and the displaced do not receive enough support from the local government to return to their homeland.
BAGHDAD — The political crisis in Anbar province has reached its peak with the vote of Anbar’s provincial council on the dismissal of the council’s head, Sabah Karhut, and the appointment Nov. 26 of Hamid al-Alwani as its new president.
After the election of the new president, the council reneged on its decision to sack Gov. Suhaib al-Rawi, as a result of political leverage and a decision by the Iraqi judiciary.
On Aug. 29, the council had dismissed Rawi, but he objected to this decision and did not relinquish his position until the court decided to revoke the dismissal decision Nov. 14. As a reaction to the court’s decision, the council decided to freeze Rawi’s financial powers Nov. 15.
The council’s decision to renege on the dismissal of Rawi cannot be seen as a decisive one, as the problem’s dimensions are complex. The council has been plagued by a great divide between the Reform bloc and the Islamic Party, of which Rawi is a member. The Islamic Party is supported by al-Hall (Solution) bloc, which is led by Jamal Karbouli and calls for the dissolution of the council. The Reform bloc includes 17 council members (out of 30) from two other blocs, the Loyalty to Anbar bloc and Al-Arabiya bloc, supported by Sheikh Abdul Latif al-Hamim, the head of the Sunni Waqf, and Sheikh Ahmad Abu Risha, the head of Iraq’s Awakening Conference. The Reform bloc is seeking to dismiss Rawi.
