BAGHDAD, Feb 13 (AFP) - Outgoing Prime Minister Iyad Allawi's list came third in Iraq's election, yet the tough-talking US-backed leader's political story is far from over, despite widespread criticism of his time in office.
His Iraqi List came a distant third with 13.8 percent of the vote and 38 seats, but his office was optimistic about the future.
"We were hoping for a better score but we have to accept the democratic choice of the people," said aide Imad Shabib.
"We can still be considered probably the largest single party in parliament because the Shiite list was a coalition of many parties," he said, referring to the winning list backed by Shiite spiritual leader Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani.
The main Shiite bloc failed to get more than half of the seats in the 275-member national assembly, leaving Allawi with a slim chance of retaining the top post as a compromise candidate.
"Allawi still has a chance of remaining the prime minister of Iraq, but we will now have to negotiate and coordinate with the other parties because nobody has an absolute majority," said Shabib.
While the new parliament will be dominated by the Shiites and their 133 seats, the Kurdish alliance won an estimated 71 seats which could create a significant bloc if added to the 38 won by Allawi's group.
Allawi spent the days preceding the announcement of the results travelling around Iraq in search of political allies, and has spoken out in favour of Kurdish candidates having top jobs in the new government.
With populist flair, on Sunday he declared the day Iraq's first multi-party elections in over 50 years were held, January 30, a national holiday.
The fact that the elections were held on time was seen by many as the crowning glory of his time in office, yet the 59-year-old secular Shiite has little else to vaunt since he was named prime minister last June.
He made security a priority but the insurgency has worsened, power cuts still darken Iraqi cities and there are widespread corruption allegations.
Allawi "has not been particularly successful as a politician, the interim government didn't really achieve anything," said Joost Hiltermann of the International Crisis Group think-tank.
Allawi, who survived an assassination attempt while an exile in London in 1978, returned after the fall of Saddam Hussein in 2003. Despite the critics, as prime minister he has earned a reputation as a tough leader.
"Iraqis feel a fairly strong resentment towards exiles who came in and grabbed power, but they crave stability and security, and he's talked the talk of security, though he hasn't walked the walk," said Hiltermann.
The incumbent was close to the US Central Intelligence Agency in exile and is reportedly Washington's favourite for the premiership. His supporters also mention the need for continuity in tough times.
A recent survey by the Washington-based International Republican Institute said almost two-thirds of Iraqi respondents considered Allawi effective.
Used to decades of Saddam dictatorship, respondents said an ability to "show strength" was more important than ideology.
Allawi's administration has also been accused of corruption, although this did not feature largely in the election campaign.
Yet even if he looses power, Allawi could relish the opportunity of criticising opponents in a democratic arena.
"It's not always useful to be in government," said Allawi's campaign manager, Adnan Janabi.
"It can be good to be able to criticise, especially in periods when there are huge failures."
02/13/2005 16:44 GMT - AFP