BAGHDAD — Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki on Thursday unveiled a coalition to compete in parliamentary elections in January that will decide whether he remains in power, as the focus of Iraqi politics moves from months of backroom negotiations over electoral alliances to a contest to sway a largely disenchanted public.
Al-Maliki’s alliance, the State of Law coalition, continues to be led by his Dawa party, a venerable Shiite Muslim group that has lately sought to portray itself as less sectarian and more nationalist. Its leaders, part of a group critics have called the “impenetrable circle,” shared the stage with the prime minister at the announcement. But al-Maliki has shown a shrewd understanding of political power in the country, and his alliance drew on support from personalities and tribal figures in all of the country’s Sunni Muslim provinces.
Politics here still follow a sectarian and ethnic formula — Sunni Arab, Shiite Arab and Kurd — but al-Maliki, himself once seen as an ardently sectarian figure, has wagered on a nationalist platform that stresses a powerful central government, reconciliation, sovereignty, and Iraqi and Arab identity. He is convinced it will help him prevail over his main rival, onetime Shiite allies joined in a coalition called the Iraqi National Alliance.
“The State of Law coalition represents all Iraqis in realizing their aspirations by building a strong, independent, secure and prosperous Iraq,” he declared.
Iraq’s elections are set for Jan. 16, but lawmakers have yet to agree on a law to organize the vote.
