Iraq’s secular strongman, Ayad Allawi, has edged out Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki in the bitterly contested general election, winning up to 10,000 more votes than the incumbent leader. He can now make the leading claim to form a government during the months of divisive talks that are likely to follow.
Allawi has so far won 91 seats in the 325-seat parliament, two more than Maliki. All votes have now been counted. The result sets Allawi up for a series of showdowns with Maliki, who had earlier shown signs that he would not go quietly. He first invoked his role as commander in chief of the Iraqi military and then repeatedly criticized the way votes were counted.
After three weeks of accusations from both sides about interference in the count, the UN last night strongly endorsed the ballot, labeling the elections “credible” and a “significant achievement.”
“There is now a solid basis for ratification by the supreme court,” Ed Melkart said, the lead UN envoy. “We have not found evidence of systemic fraud on a widespread basis.”
The UN’s endorsement is considered a crucial precursor to the months of discussions that are sure to be needed, first to win a skeptical public’s support for the electoral process and then to cobble together a coalition to form a government.
In a televised address immediately after the final results were announced at 8:45pm, a defiant Maliki repeated his accusations and insisted he still had a strong claim on forming the next government.
“We will move forward,” he said. “I give my people the strongest guarantee about that. There is a demand from the public and some of the political blocs to review things. There remains a strong suspicion about this result.”
However, Maliki also appeared to appeal for calm.
“I call for Iraqis to maintain order and to maintain public order. We await the final results to be ratified by the courts,” he said.
Allawi’s victory in the popular vote is a surprise, shocking the incumbent prime minister and his supporters, who were confident of being returned to office.
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