After Moqtada al-Sadr announced that he was retiring in February
2014 there was much speculation about what that meant for Iraqi politics.
Several of his followers in parliament and provincial councils resigned making
some believe that his party would be dissolved. However, the rhetoric from the
movement quickly changed after Sadr gave a speech calling for everyone to
participate in this year’s balloting. Afterward the withdrawals were reversed
and his Ahrar (Liberal) bloc announced that it would re-organize and compete in
the vote. This all proves that Sadr’s move was a tactical one to prepare for
the up coming election.
Moqtada al-Sadr’s goal has become much more apparent since he announced
his retirement on February 15. After several of his
parliamentarians and councilmen said that they were resigning to follow his
lead those moves have since
been reversed. The organization’s political leadership
was reshuffled with lawmaker Bahaa Araji replaced
by Mushreq Naji. A new Board
of Trustees was created as well consisting of Ahrar Secretary General Diyah
al-Asadi, Housing Minister Sahib Darraji, Maysan Governor Ali Dway Lazem, and
Baghdad Governor Ali al-Tamimi. In Sadr’s speech explaining his quitting
politics he mentioned Lazem and Tamimi as two of his politicians who were
honest and worthy of support. Finally Asadi said that Ahrar would compete in
the April elections, just without Sadr being its official leader, and that the
party would reform itself beforehand. The removal of Araji was part of that. Rather
than being a step away from politics Moqtada’s decision was actually a move to
get his list ready for the April elections. It’s cleaned house a little with
the removal of Araji, and has a new leadership group of people that Sadr has
trust in.
Sadr’s retirement was the latest move in his attempt to challenge
Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki and prevent him from a third term. Sadr and his
politicians have been talking about this for a while now. Many times it
appeared like Ahrar was just sniping at Maliki, but didn’t want to make a real
move against him. After the 2013 provincial election however Ahrar worked with
other parties to shut out the prime minister’s State of Law from several
provinces. Now it appears Sadr is ready to take the premier head on in April.
SOURCES
Al Dhargam, Ali, “Bahaa al-Araji disqualification
from the presidency of the Liberal bloc and the designation of Naji in his
place,” Buratha News, 2/20/14
Al Mada, “Secretary-General of
Independents: We agreed with leader to continue to work, and his speech is a
political constants,” 2/20/14
National Iraqi News Agency,
“Breaking News..Mushriq Naji Named a New Head of al-Ahrar Bloc,” 2/20/14
Al Rafidayn, “Liberals make up a
Board of Trustees to lead the next phase of the political bloc,” 2/20/14
- “Naji: Some MPs in the Liberal
bloc withdrew their resignations and the rest soon will follow,” 2/21/14
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