Even before the Iraqi parliamentary election results were announced, the competing Shiite groups started talking about restoring the National Alliance, composed of Iraq's leading Shiite parties. There was a special emphasis on the need to turn it into an effective “institution” led by a collective leadership, according to the statement on May 16 by the Islamic Fadila Party after its leadership met with that of the Islamic Supreme Council in Iraq (ISCI).

In its media rhetoric, the ISCI focused on the need to preserve the unity of the National Alliance, which brings together the Shiite forces, and prevent its disintegration in the next phase.

There were similar statements made by members of the State of Law Coalition, which is headed by Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki. The State of Law Coalition won the largest number of parliamentary seats, 95; the Citizen Bloc, headed by the ISCI, won 30 seats; and the blocs that represent the Sadrist movement won 34 seats.

But these “reconciliatory” statements did still not address many important questions at hand, such as: On what foundations will the Shiite alliance be built this time? What compromises are needed to reform the alliance after a bitter electoral fight among the Shiite blocs?