Iraq’s political parties are already maneuvering to form a government nearly two weeks before preliminary results from the elections are due, with Nuri al-Maliki’s bid to retain the premiership hanging in the balance. With violence at its worst in years and many voters dissatisfied over rampant corruption, high unemployment and poor basic services, the incumbent premier faces strong opposition. But Maliki’s bloc is still widely expected to take the largest number of parliament seats from the April 30 vote, even if they do not win a majority, sparking a race between him and his rivals to secure the 165 seats necessary to form a government. Parties from Iraq’s Shiite, and Kurdish communities have already begun to meet to discuss potential alliances, though provisional results are not expected until May 25. “Politics parties … are manoeuvring in the meantime until results are announced,” said Ihsan al-Shammari, professor of politics […]