Maysan in the south was one of the major contested provinces after December’s election. That was because it had been run by Sadr’s followers for years and the Coordination Framework wanted to put that to an end. The list was finally successful.
After the December vote Moqtada al-Sadr warned the Coordination Framework that it should not replace the governor in Maysan who was a Sadrist. He warned there would be protests if anything happened.
The problem for Sadr was that he boycotted the vote. That meant the Framework won all 12 of the council seats in Maysan. That allowed it to name al the top positions. Badr got the governorship. Asaib Ahl Al-Haq received the head of the provincial council. State of Law members were named the deputy head and the second deputy governor while Hikma was given the first deputy governor.
This was what the Framework was hoping would happen across southern Iraq but it has not worked out as it wished. It did not get Basra which was the biggest prize after Baghdad. In Wasit, the pro-Iran governor was re-elected.
Overall, Sadr’s position has been diminished and his enemies in the Framework have gained more government positions. This is not the first Sadr has made a misstep and it will not be a last.
SOURCES
Al Rafidain, “After An Intense Struggle Over Positions, The Coordination Framework Dominates The Positions In Maysan Governorate,” 2/10/24
- “Al-Sadr Warns The Parties And Militias Of The Coordination Framework Against Seizing Najaf and Maysan Governorates,” 12/23/23
Al Mada, “The Sadrist movement refuses to be involved in choosing governors … and a member of the Framework: The elections determined the winning parties,” 12/30/23x
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