Points of Order: Iraq's Painful Government Formation

The most likely scenario for government formation is a government of national unity that will hold together just long enough to appoint a president, prime minister and cabinet. Iraq is likely to witness restrictions on prime ministerial power, ongoing corruption and disrupted governance, although these factors will only slow rather than reverse the country's continuing stabilisation. Although Kurdish factions will probably be involved in forming the new government, there is likely to be growing parliamentary opposition to Kurdish demands and attempts to roll back Kurdish control of disputed areas by the new federal government. ...