To maintain his hold on power, however, Maliki enjoys two key assets:
the current legislation, which, absent provisions for term limits,
allows for his prolonged stay in office, and the Iraqi military, which
he has placed under tight control. The implications are not necessarily
reassuring, whether for his opponents or for hopes for sustained
democracy in Iraq.
-- Myriam Benraad, "With Elections Nearing, Iraq’s Maliki Confronts His Shiite Challengers" (World Politics Review).