Iran-aligned blocs lead Iraq's post-election government formation marathon

Iraq faces lengthy political wrangling over the formation of a new government, with Iran-aligned political blocs leading the talks after parliamentary elections last week.

Post-election talks between Shiite, Sunni and Kurdish parties typically last for months, with constitutional deadlines often being missed. Final results and seat numbers showed that about a third of Iraq's parliament is made up of factions close to Tehran.

The first major move was made this week by Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al Sudani, who announced he was once again joining the main Shiite alliance – the Co-ordination Framework. That gives the bloc an outright majority of nearly 175 seats in the 329-seat parliament.

The biggest bloc in parliament will have to nominate the next prime minister. Mr Al Sudani has his eyes on a second term but there is no guarantee he will remain in the post, despite his bloc coming first in the election with 46 seats.

No single party has won a majority of the seats in votes held since 2003 and the country's electoral system is designed to prevent the monopolisation of a single ruling party. But this often means there is a long road to form a government.

Groups within the Co-ordination Framework, which includes members with ties to Iran, also performed well at the polls, with some winning more seats than in previous elections.

“The main Shiite parties have done well and certainly the Shiite Co-ordination Framework will have significance,” Renad Mansour, director of the Iraq Initiative at Chatham House in London, told The National.

However, they will still need to form a wider coalition and alliances w