Jaafari is unlikely to retain post of Iraqi PM

[ECH1969]

WASHINGTON - Ibrahim al-Jaafari's nomination to continue for four more years as Iraq's prime minister is already in trouble, according to Iraqi sources.

"I doubt he will be confirmed," said a member of the United Iraqi Alliance, the Shia political coalition that last week nominated al-Jaafari.

al-Jaafari is unpopular with the Kurds, the second largest bloc in the council. And his most powerful backer, anti-American Shia militant Muqtada al-Sadr, is anathema to another bloc, led by former Prime Minister Ayad Allawi, which the Kurds insist must be part of the new government.

At the same time, al-Jaafari is having trouble holding together his own coalition, which nominated him by a majority of just one vote. One party in the Shia bloc - the Virtue Party, which voted against him - is publicly threatening to pull out. At the same time, sources in the Supreme Council for the Islamic Resistance in Iraq, which fielded the losing candidate, Adel Abdul Mahdi, said they have not given up hope that Abdul Mahdi will get the job.

http://www.kurdmedia.com/news.asp?id=11414

[leftchick]

1. I think that is wishful thinking

:eyes:

[ECH1969]

2. It depends on what the parties inside the UIA want

He won by one vote, but if those opposing him inside the UIA ally with the Kurds and Sunnis then Jaafari has zero chance of being voted in.

Two main parties inside the UIA according to this article are saying they haven't given up the fight for Mahdi, it depends on how far they are willing to take this.