Editing Politics of Iraq (section)

===Lack of commitment to federalism===
Since the adoption of the new Iraqi constitution in 2005, federalism with a heavy emphasis on [[decentralisation]] has been the official model of governance in Iraq. However, certain constitutional stipulations, such as those related to the creation of the Federation Council (the upper house of the legislature) have not been implemented, which remains an issue undermining the full implementation of federalism in the country. In September 2017, a one-sided [[2017 Kurdistan Region independence referendum|referendum]] was held in Iraq's [[Kurdistan Region]] regarding [[Kurdish nationalism|Kurdish independence]], which resulted in 92% (of those participating in the region) voting in favor of independence.<ref>{{Cite news |date=27 September 2017 |title=92% of Iraqi Kurds back independence from Baghdad, election commission says |url=http://www.france24.com/en/20170927-iraqi-kurds-vote-overwhelmingly-independence-referendum |access-date=14 November 2017 |publisher=France 24 }}</ref> The referendum was rejected by the federal government and ruled as illegal by the [[Federal Supreme Court of Iraq|Federal Supreme Court]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=6 November 2017 |title=Iraq court rules no region can secede after Kurdish independence bid |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-mideast-crisis-iraq-kurds/iraqcourt-rules-no-region-can-secede-after-kurdish-independence-bid-idUSKBN1D617O |work=Reuters}}</ref>  Following this, an [[2017 Iraqi-Kurdish conflict|armed conflict]] ensued between the federal government and the [[Kurdistan Regional Government]] which resulted in Kurdish defeat and capitulation; Kurdistan Region subsequently lost territory it had previously occupied, and the president of Kurdistan Region officially resigned,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/world/kurdish-leader-barzani-resigns-after-independence-vote-backfires-idUSKBN1CY0JR/|title=Kurdish leader Barzani resigns after independence vote backfires|publisher=Reuters}}</ref> and finally, the regional government announced that it would respect the Federal Supreme Court's ruling that no Iraqi province is allowed to secede, effectively abandoning the referendum.<ref>{{Cite news |date=14 November 2017 |title=Iraq's Kurdistan says to respect court decision banning secession |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-mideast-crisis-iraq-kurds/iraqs-kurdistan-says-to-respect-court-decision-banning-secession-idUSKBN1DE0XD |work=Reuters}}</ref> According to a report published by [[The Washington Institute for Near East Policy]], a U.S-based think tank, since Kurdistan Region's failed bid to gain independence, the federal government has been severely punishing it both politically and economically. In gradual steps, the federal government has consistently weakened Kurdistan Region's ability to administer its own affairs by revoking crucial authorities that had previously defined its autonomy.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.washingtoninstitute.org/policy-analysis/house-divided-can-kurdistan-preserve-its-autonomy|title=A House Divided: Can Kurdistan Preserve Its Autonomy?|publisher=Washington Institute}}</ref> Furthermore, since it won a pivotal [[International Chamber of Commerce|ICC]] arbitration case, the federal government has also been refusing Kurdistan Region access to its most important source of income, namely, oil exports, and the latter has had no other option but to concede.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/iraq-halts-northern-crude-exports-after-winning-arbitration-case-against-turkey-2023-03-25/|title=Iraq halts northern crude exports after winning arbitration case against Turkey|work=Reuters}}</ref> Some have argued that this signals the Iraqi government's intention to abandon federalism and return to a [[Centralized government|centralized political system]],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.wilsoncenter.org/article/iraq-demise-federalism|title=Iraq: The Demise of Federalism|date=11 July 2023 |publisher=The Wilson Center}}</ref> and in a leaked letter sent in 2023 to the U.S president, the prime minister of Kurdistan region wrote of an impending collapse of Kurdistan Region.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2023/09/letter-biden-barzani-warns-iraqi-kurdistans-collapse-urges-mediation|title=In letter to Biden, Barzani warns of Iraqi Kurdistan's collapse, urges mediation|publisher=Al-Monitor}}</ref>