Baghdad - squabbling Iraqi politicians are wrestling with a fresh question in efforts to form a new Government here: how much is a cabinet post worth?
Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki has the better part of this month name Government Ministers from the big win in March elections, parties after a power-sharing deal last month rival factions agreed. To do more, he has fallen back on a controversial points system, the relative prestige of each cabinet portfolio with a party elections performance to match.
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Each party has awarded a point for each 2.25 seats in Parliament who won it in the polls. Political bosses are provided to exchange the points for your Cabinet preferred seats. According to the portfolio's value folder a wardrobe space can be one to three points, or may cost more.
The complex system is a popular one for the Prime Minister not. "Unfortunately we now are seats, quarter - and half-squares, count," Mr. Maliki said News Conference at one recently. "But we must be fair to everyone."
Many of Mr. of Maliki's election rivals - now potential coalition partners - say the point system is not fair. The backlash threatens to slow down the process. The record for the longest period between elections and the formation of a Government according to the Cornell University has established Institute for European studies Iraq. The distinction had taken place by the Netherlands.
Some critics want a simpler system that would assign the choice ministries which won based on the percentage of seats. Others want to increase in the number of seats per point in Mr. of Maliki's system. Others want to be excluded - mathematics total personnel - including the Premiership because these positions have been agreed in the power-sharing deal to.
"Until now, there is no agreement on the points," said Mahmoud Othman, a member of the European Parliament Kurdish extent is like other slate for ministries fishing.
It was a popular revolt and. In some Iraqi cities have secular-minded demonstrators demanded that Mr. Maliki of the Ministry of culture from the formula to exclude it from the hands of Islamist parties.
Mr. Maliki is under pressure to hand out control cabinet posts in a fair way about the country of ethnic and religious divides. Which for the most part boycotted 2005 Sunnis, surveys and locked - fueling of the insurgency - felt from the last Government by the process of negotiation are careful, who is what contributions marginalized.
The US has warned that another perceived in particular could big turnout of Sunnis in the March election an uprising to ignition direction decision of the Sunnis, tilted almost the country towards civil war after the previous vote.
Iraqi minorities also feeling fully from. Christian MEP said this week that any opportunity for a meaningful role in the next administration "is gone with the wind."
Ministries continue to amass prestige and wealth are viewed through most Iraqi politicians as personal fiefdom and ways to influence.
The process is "a bazaar where wild Iraqi wishes for enrichment and influence clashing regional and international agendas," said Ibrahim al-Sumaidaie, a political commentator here.
In the March survey won no block a parliamentary majority, force bitter political enemies agree to make share after nine months of haggling. Mr. Maliki Shiite slate 89 of 325 seats in the Parliament's won in the elections. The Sunni-dominated slate of former Prime Minister Iyad Allawi surrounded him out with 91 seats, but Mr Allawi to the cobble together a Government coalition.
The election result is Mr Maliki 39.5 points to Mr of Allawi's 40,4. A Kurdish Alliance won 42 seats, the him 18.6 points. And 40 seats, followers of the anti-u.s. cleric Muqtada al-Sadr him 17.75 points.
Mr. Maliki was not precise on just how many points of each post will require. He said that Plum ones - such as finance, Foreign Affairs, and oil - would cost at least three points each.
"Premium," public service ministries such as health and electricity, you are next in the pecking order require at least two points each after Adnan al-Asadi, a member of Parliament, Mr Maliki's Party. Lower profile contributions, for example, in the Iraq displaced persons and human rights portfolio, only 1.5 points need Mr Asadi said.
Mr. Maliki said he defence and interior ministries from the formula to you from "sectarian and political considerations." Shield would exclude
Over the weekend, the complexity of the system - the Iraqis have Muhasasa, Arabic for "Quota system" called - creates a program on State Iraqiya TV called, "the contributions: the equations."
Appearance in the show, beat Shaker Kassonke, Member of Mr of Allawi's block, Mr. Maliki points by his powerful post with the ceremonial Presidency that has been given for the Kurdish, and is one of the speakers of the Parliament who dominated the bloc Sunni equating was hoarding.
Amidst the scramble, Mr. Maliki has extended comments on offer - scrapping plans of his future Cabinet 21 members lose weight. Now he says 41 ministers, including those for investment and tourism will include.
The Parliament is now discussing number of parliamentary committees above posts can dealt for the presidencies to groups, to Cabinet. And Iraqi President Jalal Talabani currently the number of representatives for his post at three to two boost suggests.
"It's for the dual purposes of need and appeasement," said ALA Talabani, a member of Parliament, Mr. Talabani's Kurdish block.
-Munaf Ammar, wore Ali A. Nabhan and Jabbar Talib to this article.Write toSam Dagher at the sam.dagher@wsj.com
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