Iraqi crisis talks to move on without Al-Sadr
3 Min Read
The political climate in Iraq has called for domestic leaders to convene and discuss ways out of the political deadlock, but Muqtada Al-Sadr is staying off the negotiations table.
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Supporters of Muqtada al-Sadr hold prayer near the parliament building in Baghdad, Iraq, Friday, Aug. 12, 2022 (AP Photo/Anmar Khalil)
Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kadhimi met with top national officials and party leaders on Wednesday to discuss the political state in the country and the deadlock it is undergoing. However, the leader of the Sadrist movement, Moqtada Al-Sadr, a key figure in the Iraqi political arena, did not attend the talks.
Nearly a year after the country's general election, Baghdad is still running without a new government, prime minister, and president due to domestic disagreement about forming a coalition.
The Coordination Framework in the country wants to set conditions, and it is also demanding a transitional government ahead of fresh polls in the country. However, political rival Al-Sadr has been calling for the dissolution of parliament for months in order to pave the way for new elections.
PM Kadhimi's office said he called for a meeting on Wednesday "to start a serious dialogue; intending to find solutions to the current political crisis."
Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kadhimi confirmed on Tuesday that the country's political crises must be resolved through dialogue.
Last Wednesday, Al-Sadr demanded that "the Iraqi judiciary dissolve parliament within a period not exceeding the end of next week," and that "the president of the republic set a date for early parliamentary elections," in light of the political impasse in the country.
Demonstrations called for by the Iraqi Coordination Framework "in support of legitimacy and constitution" started in front of Al-Mu'allaq Bridge in the Iraqi capital, Baghdad.
The Coordination Framework in Iraq stressed the importance of expediting the process of naming a presidential candidate and the formation of a service government that addresses the crises in the country.
Earlier in the month, supporters of the Coordination Framework in Iraq flocked to the entrance of the Green Zone to participate in a demonstration raising the slogan "supporting legitimacy and preserving the constitution," in response to a call by the Framework to the Iraqi people to demonstrate peacefully "to defend their state."
This came after the leader of the Sadrist movement, Muqtada Al-Sadr, called on his supporters to demonstrate, saying in a statement: "Oh, the Iraqi people, you are all at stake." He added, "Rise to demand reform in your country... I call on everyone to support the revolutionaries for reform, including our tribes, our security forces, and members of the popular mobilization."
His televised speech came as his supporters occupied parliament for a fifth consecutive day, angered by the candidacy of Mohammad Shia Al-Sudani, who was nominated for the premiership by the Coordination Framework.
For its part, Kata'ib Hezbollah in Iraq called on "the wise to calm down, respect the judiciary, return to the constitution, and present the principle of reconciliation and peaceful solutions, instead of escalation with intimidations and threats."
In this context, Iraq's Supreme Judicial Council confirmed earlier that it has no jurisdiction to dissolve the country's Parliament.
