Evaluation of governors lays groundwork for pivot to local politics

PM Sudani’s second meeting in as many months with provincial governors not only reflects his government’s intention to prioritise improving services at the local level, but it also indicates the direction of travel for political contestations over the course of next year. While post-election politics focused on maximising power in Baghdad, politics in 2023 will pivot towards re-drawing the power-sharing map at the provincial level.