The most influential politician in Iraq issued a veiled warning yesterday to Sunni Arabs that Shiites would not allow substantive amendments to the countryâs new constitution, including to the provision that keeps the central government weak in favor of strong provincial governments. Abdul Aziz Al-Hakim, the leader of the Supreme Council for the Islamic Revolution in Iraq, or SCIRI, said in an address on the occasion of Eid Al-Adha that provincial governments would remain strong in the constitution, which can be amended after the next government is installed. âThe first principle is not to change the essence of the constitution. This constitution was endorsed by the Iraqi people,â he said.Sunni Arabs place great stock in their ability to change the constitution, one of the reasons Sunni politician urged the minority to turn out in large numbers during the Dec. 15 parliamentary election. They want a stronger central government because the constitution now bestows most power â including control over oil profits â to provincial governments. The Shiites in the south and the Kurds in the north control most of Iraqâs oil. There are few oil reserves in central Iraq, where Sunnis live.
To win their support for the new constitution, which was approved in an Oct. 15 vote, Sunni Arabs were promised they could propose amendments to it during the first four months of the new Parliamentâs tenure. The new Parliament is expected to be seated around the end of February. Amendments need two-thirds approval in Parliament and a majority in a national referendum.
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