Iraq’s parliamentary plague

In normal times Iraq’s parliament can be a desolate place: many mps do not bother to show up for work. Today it is full—though far short of a quorum. On July 30th supporters of Muqtada al-Sadr, a cleric and politician, stormed parliament. They have settled in for what they promise will be an open-ended sit-in. Volunteers have been bringing meals and tea; juice vendors roam the aisles. For once, mps have a legitimate reason for staying at home.

Iraq has been without a proper government for almost ten months, the longest period of paralysis since 2005; Mustafa al-Kadhimi has been hobbling along as the caretaker prime minister. Such deadlocks are nothing new. But the events of the past week have pushed the country in an ominous direction. Mr Sadr has urged more Iraqis to join the sit-in, while his opponents have started counter-protests nearby. The political crisis in the world’s sixth-largest oil producer risks boiling over into violent conflict.