Publication

In Baghdad, the focus of the government formation process is almost entirely on one position, prime minister, and largely on one man, incumbent Prime Minister Nuri Al-Maliki. While the role of neighboring countries and the perceived declining U.S. interest get substantial attention, it is Maliki—the relatively unknown compromise candidate from 2006—who now plays the lead role in this transition as the most independent, ambitious and unpredictable actor on the scene. Win or lose, Maliki serves as a lightning rod for a growing debate on the role of Iraq’s chief executive that could leave a major imprint on Iraq’s system of government.