Indicators from within the coalition led by former Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki suggest that he is poised to engage in a pivotal battle in this year's end-of-year elections for the provincial councils.
His objective is to secure five governors in central and southern Iraq. Additionally, he plans to capture the Shiite voters’ support in Baghdad, which is anticipated to be a fiercely contested electoral battleground, as described by members of the State of Law Coalition.
For months, al-Maliki’s coalition has set two goals concerning provincial council elections.
Firstly, they adamantly oppose any postponement of the scheduled December deadline.
Secondly, they are shutting the door on forming alliances with other Shiite factions in Iraq’s Coordination Framework.
The former premier is inclined to win council seats “without anyone's assistance,” according to a coalition insider.
Al-Maliki has previously affirmed that the local elections will take place as planned without any delays. He has called upon his supporters to be prepared and actively engage in selecting their representatives for the provincial councils.
A leader within al-Maliki’s coalition, who requested anonymity, revealed to Asharq Al-Awsat that the former prime minister is determined to expand his influence within the provinces.
His strategy encompasses winning around 40% of the Iraqi Parliament’s over 450 seats, in addition to securing the position of governor in five cities without any assistance from allies.
Sources with knowledge of the matter claim that al-Maliki is one of the most enthusiastic proponents of the Sadrist movement’s absence from the competition. He views the provincial council elections as a golden opportunity not only to solidify his influence but also to fill the void left by Muqtada al-Sadr.
In the previous local elections of 2013, al-Maliki managed to secure approximately 120 seats and five governor positions. However, he lost them all when the provincial councils were dissolved in 2019 due to the Iraq protests.
It appears that the former Prime Minister is entirely preoccupied with electoral calculations in areas where the Sadrist movement holds sway, especially in the central and southern regions of the country.
He believes that the “central battle” will unfold in the capital city, Baghdad, where the competition among Shiite candidates for securing Shiite voters’ support is fiercest.
