Baghdad- Indicators show a fierce and early electoral struggle in Iraq’s Dawa Party, the ruling party since 2005. This struggle is mainly between Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi and Vice President Nouri al-Maliki.

Suspending party membership of Baghdad’s former governor Salah Abdulrazeq and leaking the internal investigation document reveal the ongoing struggle between the two parties. Sources from Dawa party affirm that the pro-Abadi party deliberately leaked the document to media to defame Maliki due to his tight relation with the former governor.

Some sources see that the continuous US pressures on Abadi to tackle corruption and hold corrupts accountable might have pushed him to address the corruption file of one of his party members. The organizational office of Dawa Party carried out a discreet investigation, five days before this was intentionally leaked to the media.

“Given the information raising suspicion about Salah Abdulrazeq financial corruption and the defamation caused by that, it has been decided to suspend Salah’s party membership until the matter is fully cleared,” the party investigation reported.

Despite the former governor denial, considering these accusations as an early electoral campaign that targets him personally, several documents from Baghdad province and council showed administrative and financial breaches made by him.

Besides Salah, also his two sons residing in Europe are facing similar corruption accusations – videos and documents showed their enormous wealth, knowing that one of them manages a nightclub in Netherlands.

This event embarrassed the ruling party, but the step was welcomed by national and political circles given that it opens the door to increasing accountability in prime parties and blocs.