BAGHDAD — Even as Iraqis continue to take to the streets to protest unemployment and poor services, and although the judiciary-appointed commission has yet to announce the official results of the ballot recount for the recent parliamentary elections, the winning blocs are nevertheless proceeding with consultations to form the next government.
After alliances among Shiite blocs were made public — and for the first time following the May 12 general elections — there were visits to Erbil to discuss the government formation. A Fatah Alliance delegation led by Hadi al-Amiri arrived July 6 in Erbil, and a delegation of the State of Law Coalition led by Nouri al-Maliki held talks he deemed “successful” with the Kurdistan Democratic Party’s (KDP) leaders July 7, also in Erbil.
