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.
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.
