Published: February 4, 2010
Iraq’s fragile democracy stepped back from the brink this week only to have Prime
Minister Nuri Kamal al-Maliki push it toward the edge once again.
Skip to next paragraph We were relieved when an Iraqi appeals court overturned a
disgraceful government decision to ban hundreds of candidates, many of them
prominent Sunni Muslims, from participating in next month’s parliamentary
elections. We were dismayed when Mr. Maliki, playing shamelessly to the Shiite
majority, denounced the ruling as illegal and called an urgent meeting of
Parliament for this Sunday to “study” the decision.
On Thursday, Iraqi election officials — who are part of Mr. Maliki’s government —
asked the Supreme Court to review the decision.
Iraq’s Accountability and Justice Commission said last month that the candidates
could not run because of alleged ties to Saddam Hussein’s outlawed Baath Party.
There is no doubt that the real goal of the commission — its chief is a candidate on
the slate led by former President George W. Bush’s old pal, Ahmed Chalabi — was to
disenfranchise Sunnis. After years of sectarian violence, Iraq cannot afford to play
such dangerous games.
The ruling was not as legally pure as one might like. The judges were
unquestionably acting under tremendous political pressure.
Vice President Joseph Biden visited Baghdad last month to press the government to
let as many Sunnis as possible run. Mr. Chalabi and his friends in Tehran have been
looking for ways to exclude competitors, as Mr. Chalabi presses his drive to become
the prime minister. But at a time when the politicians were tied in knots, it is
also a relief to see the court make a decision that is clearly in Iraq’s interest.
It is unfortunate that the court never explained the legal rationale for overturning
the ban. The accountability commission was similarly secretive about its decision.
To have any chance at credibility — with all of Iraq’s competing factions — Iraq’s
government institutions are going to have to be much more transparent.
The crisis isn’t over. The appeals court said candidates could run in the March
election and have their ties to the Baath Party examined afterward. That virtually
guarantees more postelection turmoil, especially if elected members of Parliament
are denied their seats.
Right now, Mr. Maliki and the Parliament should get on with the campaign. Instead of
trying to keep competitors off the ballot, Iraq’s leaders should be debating their
country’s many serious problems and telling voters how they will fix them. For Iraq
to be stable and to thrive — and for American troops to safely go home — the
candidate list, and the next Iraqi government, must represent all of Iraq’s people.