Al-Sadr: We 'categorically' reject consensual Iraqi government

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies + Al Mayadeen Net
8 Sep 18:02

The leader of the Sadrist movement says the dissolution of parliament is possible even without the return of the Sadrist bloc.

The leader of the Sadrist movement, Muqtada Al-Sadr

Saleh Al-Iraqi, who is close to the leader of the Sadrist movement, Muqtada Al-Sadr, said Thursday, that "it is strictly forbidden, and under any pretext, the return of the Sadrist bloc to the Iraqi parliament."

"We categorically reject a consensual government," Al-Iraqi said, quoting Al-Sadr.

Al-Iraqi pointed out that the dissolution of parliament is possible without the return of the Sadrist bloc, especially with the presence of its allies and some independent parties in the parliament.

Al-Iraqi added, quoting Al-Sadr, "I call on our allies and independent parties to take a courageous stance that ends the crisis so that the dissolution of the parliament will not be based on a Sadrist move, but rather national."

On Wednesday, the Federal Supreme Court of Iraq announced the rejection of the lawsuit submitted by a number of officials of the Sadrist movement calling for the dissolution of the parliament, adding that the decision to dissolve the parliament is not within its jurisdiction.

Earlier, Al-Sadr demanded that the judiciary dissolve the Iraqi parliament and the President set a date for early parliamentary elections in light of the political turmoil in the country.

Since the early parliamentary elections in October 2021, Iraq has been suffering from a severe political crisis, as consultations between the political parties did not lead to the nomination of a prime minister. As a result, members of the Sadrist movement within Parliament submitted their resignation after calls by the leader of the movement Muqtada Al-Sadr.

On Sunday, the Speaker of the Iraqi Parliament, Mohammad Al-Halbousi, called for the agenda of the upcoming national dialogue session to include setting a date for early parliamentary elections and electing provincial councils no later than the end of next year.

The Sadrist movement denounced in a statement, last Thursday, the Coordination Framework's call for the parliament and the rest of the constitutional institutions to return to exercising their constitutional duties in order to form a new government.

Earlier, Iraq Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kadhimi threatened to vacate his post if the complicated political situation in the country persists.

On his part, Iraqi President Barham Saleh called on the leaders of the Coordination Framework to negotiate with the Sadrist movement to end the political stalemate in the country and to discuss the possibility of holding early parliamentary elections in order to form a new government.

A few days ago, Iraq witnessed bloody clashes that killed more than 20 people and left many injured, after supporters of the Sadrist movement stormed a number of government headquarters in Baghdad, immediately after the movement's leader, Muqtada Al-Sadr, announced he was quitting politics.

Later, Al-Sadr's supporters withdrew from the street in compliance with the directives of their leader, who criticized the violence that happened during the protests. The Coordination Framework also ended its supporters' sit-in in the capital, Baghdad.