Iraqis have reached a “complete deadlock.” Nearly 10 years after the beginning of the political process, during which they headed to the polls six times, Iraqis find themselves in a closed circle, unable to break free because of the failure that plagues their political system. This has affected security, services and — most important — it has deepened the gap between the different segments of Iraqi society. This country, which has long been characterized by coexistence, had never experienced such a divide until the US invasion of Iraq in April 2003.
Americans took on the role of the impartial intermediary until December 2011 — the date of their withdrawal from Iraq. Meanwhile, political divisions intensified after the 2010 elections, which ended with the renewal of the mandate of current Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, after a marathon of arduous negotiations that lasted for 10 months.
