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Political circles were intensively speculating yesterday about the possibility of the government prematurely dissolving parliament and calling general elections early next year, possibly ahead of provincial council elections.
Advances on the military front would make it opportune for the government to go to the polls, political sources said.
The major political parties are already in talks with smaller parties with a view to forming alliances to face an election, these sources said.
While a parliamentary election is not due till 2010, the president is constitutionally empowered to call an election at any time of his choosing after one year has elapsed since the last general election.
"MPs who are serving their first term would like five years to pass since the last election to qualify for a parliamentary pension,’’ an analyst said. ``But given the common interest of government and opposition MPs on this score, there’s nothing to stop the qualifying period being reduced.’’
