Futility Of Sadr’s Position On Forming New Iraqi Govt

Sadrists stormed the Green Zone once again but to no avail (AP)

On September 28 Iraq’s parliament met after a nearly two month hiatus and re-affirmed its confidence in Speaker Mohammed al-Halbusi who offered his resignation. The body then elected Muhsin al-Mandalawi as deputy speaker to replace Sadrist Hakim al-Zamili.

 

This was the first step in forming the next government by the new State Administration Alliance. It hasn’t been officially announced yet but it is supposed to be made up of the Coordination Framework, the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP), the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), the Azm Alliance and Halbusi’s Taqadum. The list was formed as a result of Moqtada al-Sadr withdrawing his parliamentarians which led his allies the KDP, Azm and Taqadum to go to the Framework to ensure their place in a new administration.

 

Sadr opposes this new move but is rapidly losing influence. After he pulled out his MPs he turned to the streets to express his power. That was used once again when Sadrists stormed the Green Zone trying to prevent the parliamentary session. Sadrists also came out in Babil and Basra. That obviously failed, and future attempts to block moves by the new alliance will likely end the same way. Sadr would likely have to resort to violence to get politicians to postpone things and even then that would likely be a short term delay in what is becoming an inevitable move towards selecting a prime minister. Sadr’s only hope is that members of the Framework will be able to offer him concessions and he will accept them and join the ruling coalition. Otherwise, he will be left on the outside after he believed he would be the new king of Iraqi politics.

 

SOURCES

 

Asharq Al-Awsat, “Sadr Supporters Again Storm Baghdad’s Government Zone,” 9/28/22

 

Al Mada, “The enthusiasm of the Framework for the new coalition is declining with Sadr’s escalation in preventing today’s parliament session,” 9/28/22

 

Mahmoud, Sinan, “Baghdad’s Green Zone bombarded after parliament meets,” The National, 9/28/22

 

NINA, “Dozens Demonstrate in Hilla To Demand Dissolving The Parliament And Holding Early Elections,” 9/28/22

 

Xinhua, “Iraq’s parliament resumes sessions, rejects speaker’s resignation,” 9/28/22