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As Iraqi elections end, power play begins for prime minister

The Islamic Dawa party, which has held sway over Iraq's government for a dozen years, could lose its power to select the prime minister unless it can resolve major differences between its inner rivals and unify the party.
Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi attends the election campaign, along with his supporters, ahead of the parliamentary election in Kerbala, Iraq May 4, 2018. REUTERS/Abdullah Dhiaa al-Deen - RC19D2EB8110

BAGHDAD — Shiite coalitions that won the most seats in Iraq's May 12 legislative elections are absorbed in negotiations to form the largest parliamentary bloc, which will have the constitutional right to nominate the next prime minister.

The Sairoon Alliance led by Muqtada al-Sadr won the highest number of seats, but not enough for a parliamentary majority, so pacts must be made.

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