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Iraq Parliment Updates

A place to talk about domestic politics in Middle East (Iran, Iraq , Turkey, Syria) Also includes topics about Assyrian, Armenian, Chaldean .

Re: War-scarred Iraq sinks deeper into political crisis

PostAuthor: Anthea » Sat Jul 16, 2022 6:03 pm

Possible presidential election next week

ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – The Shiite coordination framework called for holding the presidential election session next week

The call came in a statement issued by the framework after a meeting held on Friday evening to discuss political developments, especially the issue of forming the government and electing the president of the republic.

The statement added that the framework approved its permanent convening in an open and continuous session to choose the prime minister during the next few days, according to mechanisms established by the framework.

The framework called for "the Presidency of the House of Representatives to hold a session to elect the President of the Republic during this week to complete the constitutional entitlements."

The framework renewed its invitation to "the Kurdish parties to intensify their dialogues and to agree on a candidate of the President of the Republic or a mechanism for the selection, before holding a parliament session to speed up the completion of the requirements for forming the government and to start implementing the steps of reconstruction."

Before the statement, Parliament Speaker Mohammed al-Halbousi called on "the heads of political forces and parliamentary blocs to assume responsibility and resolve dialogues to proceed with the election of the President of the Republic, so that we can take the necessary measures, by the provisions of the constitution and the internal system of the Council in determining the date of the election session, and completing the constitutional dues to form the expected government."

Earlier on Friday, the leader of the Sadrist movement, Muqtada al-Sadr, renewed his call for dissolving the armed factions that operate outside the framework of the state, while stressing the need for "tested" political figures not to take positions in the next federal government.

https://www.kurdistan24.net/en/story/28 ... -this-week
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Re: War-scarred Iraq sinks deeper into political crisis

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Re: War-scarred Iraq sinks deeper into political crisis

PostAuthor: Anthea » Wed Jul 27, 2022 9:00 pm

Sadr supporters storm Iraqi parliament

Hundreds of supporters of Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr breached concrete walls which separate Baghdad’s Green Zone from the rest of the city and entered the parliament building on Wednesday, protesting against a premiership candidate announced by the Coordination Framework earlier this week. Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi called on the demonstrators to withdraw

The pro-Iran Coordination Framework on Monday announced Mohammed Shia' al-Sudani, Iraq’s former minister of labour and social affairs, as their candidate for the country’s prime minister position, in a step towards ending the political impasse that has plagued Iraq for months.

Sadr’s supporters have rejected Sudani’s nomination, accusing him of corruption. They breached Green Zone walls on Wednesday where most of the government’s key institutions and offices of foreign missions are located and entered the parliament building.

The protesters also chanted slogans against Iran

Kadhimi called on the protesters “to abide by their peace and preserve public and private property, and to the instructions of the security forces responsible with protecting them in accordance with the laws and regulations, and to immediately withdraw from the Green Zone,” according to a statement from his office.

He later called them to withdraw from the parliament building

The protesters began leaving the legislature building later in the night after Sadr called on them a tweet to "return home," adding their message was "received."

United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) said in a statement late Wednesday that "The right to peaceful protest is essential to democracy."

"However, it goes hand in hand with respect for state institutions and the safeguarding of public and private property. It is imperative that protests remain peaceful and in compliance with the law," it added.

Nouri al-Maliki, former Iraqi PM and the leader of State of Law Coalition, said in a statement that the protesters' bleaching of the Green Zone and entry to the parliament was "a blatant violation" of demonstration right.

Maliki, whose coalition is the backbone of the Framework Coalition, called on the protesters to withdraw.

Sudani was selected as the pro-Iran faction’s candidate for Iraq’s premiership through a unanimous vote between leaders of the alliance, according to a statement from the framework. He is currently an MP in the Iraqi parliament.

Born in 1970, Sudani entered politics from a young age, especially after the killing of his father by Saddam Hussein’s Baath regime in 1980 due to his affiliation with the Islamic Dawa Party. He participated in the 1991 anti-regime Shaaban uprising for three years.

Sadr, who was the main winner of October elections, withdrew from the parliament last month after failing to reach an agreement with the rival Coordination Framework to form a government.

    Supporters of Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr in Baghdad are protesting against the nomination of Mohammed Shia' al-Sudani for the position of Iraqi prime minister by the Coordination Framework. pic.twitter.com/aFSyPLKxEn
    — Rudaw English (@RudawEnglish) July 27, 2022
https://www.rudaw.net/english/middleeast/iraq/270720224
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Re: War-scarred Iraq sinks deeper into political crisis

PostAuthor: Anthea » Fri Jul 29, 2022 5:48 pm

More protests or fresh polls?
    Iraq mulls political paralysis
The storming of Iraq's parliament by hundreds of supporters of populist Shiite cleric Moqtada Sadr has piled pressure on his political opponents working to form a government nearly 10 months after an election

"Neither side is willing to make any concessions," political scientist Ali al-Baidar said Thursday, one day after crowds breached Baghdad's heavily fortified Green Zone and staged a parliamentary sit-in, waving flags and demanding change.

The protests are the latest challenge for oil-rich Iraq, which remains mired in a political and a socioeconomic crisis despite soaring energy prices.

Is Iraq heading towards more protests and a deepening crisis? Or will it be obliged to hold fresh polls?

- What were protests about? -

Sadr's bloc won 73 seats in October last year, making it the largest faction in the 329-seat parliament.

But it was still far short of a majority.

In multi-confessional and multi-ethnic Iraq, the formation of governments has involved complex negotiations since the 2003 US-led invasion toppled dictator Saddam Hussein.

By convention, the post of prime minister goes to a leader from Iraq's Shiite majority.

Sadr, a former militia leader, had initially supported the idea of a "majority government".

That would have sent his Shiite adversaries from the pro-Iran Coordination Framework into opposition.

The Coordination Framework draws lawmakers from former premier Nuri al-Maliki's party and the pro-Iran Fatah Alliance, the political arm of the Shiite-led former paramilitary group Hashed al-Shaabi.

But last month Sadr's 73 lawmakers quit in a move seen as seeking to pressure his rivals to fast-track the establishment of a government.

Sixty-four new lawmakers were sworn in later in June, making the pro-Iran bloc the largest in parliament.

On Wednesday, Sadr's supporters stormed parliament to protest at Coordination Framework's nomination for prime minister, Mohammed al-Sudani.

It was clear message from Sadr to his rivals "that there will be no government... without his agreement", said the political scientist Baidar.

"Via the masses, he signifies that he is an active player in the political landscape, that all must respect his positions and opinions, that nothing can be done without Sadr's blessing."

- Can the rivals agree? -

"This is going to be longest government formation process," said Renad Mansour of British think tank Chatham House.

Mansour said the protests were Sadr's warning that he aims to "use street power to bring down his opponents' attempts to form a government".

The protesters on Wednesday left peacefully after nearly two hours inside parliament - after Sadr issued messages calling for them to go home, saying they had "terrorised the corrupt".

But it was far from the first Sadr has encourage protest to show his strength on the streets.

Earlier this month, hundreds of thousands of Muslim worshippers loyal to Sadr attended a Friday prayer service in Baghdad in a display of political might.

Baidar fears "the situation is heading for further escalation", noting that Sadr's rivals are in a tough position too.

"The Coordination Framework risks being weakened if it presents an alternative candidate to satisfy Sadr", he argued.

But Mansour said the Framework was riven with "many internal rivalries".

Some members are "worried about working without Sadr" because without his backing, such protests as happened on Wednesday "would become a reality to the future government, when and if it is eventually formed."

- Will there be fresh elections? -

One option could be to hold fresh elections.

"That's definitely something that has become more realistic after the recent developments," said Mansour.

"The Sadrists are hoping that by showing themselves as an opposition force instead of being in the government... could actually attract more votes."

But political scientist Ihsan al-Shammari, from the University of Baghdad, said that under pressure from Sadr, the current assembly could be paralysed.

"Part of Sadr's strategy is to besiege parliament," he said, suggesting Sadrists could organise a sit-in at parliament or launch a campaign of civil disobedience.

Storming parliament was "only the first step", said Shammari. "The message is clear, Sadr and his supporters are ready to go further than that."

By Tony Gamal-Gabriel

https://www.rudaw.net/english/middleeast/iraq/29072022
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Re: War-scarred Iraq sinks deeper into political crisis

PostAuthor: Anthea » Fri Jul 29, 2022 5:52 pm

Avoid creating crises for Iraq

Mustafa al-Kadhimi, Iraq’s prime minister, on Thursday called on the political parties to not create security, social and political crises for the country. This comes hours after supporters of Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr stormed the parliament to protest the nomination of a “corrupt” politician by a pro-Iran coalition for the position of premier

Hundreds of supporters of Sadr breached Baghdad's Green Zone, where most of the government’s key institutions and offices of foreign missions are located, and entered the parliament building late Wednesday.

The protesters rejected the recent nomination of Mohammed Shia' al-Sudani, Iraq’s former minister of labour and social affairs, as a candidate for the country’s prime minister position by the pro-Iran Coordination Framework, accusing him of corruption. They retreated from the legislature building after Sadr ordered them to “return home.”

Kadhimi, who called on protesters to “immediately withdraw” from the parliament building late Wednesday, said in a statement on Thursday that his cabinet has tried to create a peaceful situation in the country after years of conflict, warning against any new crises.

“The government renews its appeal to all political forces to not create political crises for it, but rather adopt the approach of constructive dialogue,” the statement read, calling on everyone to “understand the critical and sensitive situation in which Iraq stands today, and to prevent the country from being plunged into a security or social crisis amid complex regional and international circumstances.”

The premier also said that the political parties should “confront crises and disputes in the spirit of national dialogue under the roof of one nation.”

Iraq held parliamentary elections in October but the political parties have failed to elect a president and a prime minister for the country due to disagreements.

Sadr, who was the main winner of the elections, withdrew from the parliament last month after failing to reach an agreement with the rival Coordination Framework to form a government.

The Coordination Framework, now the biggest coalition, is in talks with other political parties to form a new cabinet, announcing Sudani as their candidate for the position of prime minister on Monday.

https://www.rudaw.net/english/middleeast/iraq/280720222
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Re: War-scarred Iraq sinks deeper into political crisis

PostAuthor: Anthea » Mon Aug 01, 2022 12:04 am

Further escalation in Baghdad
Wladimir van Wilgenburg

ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – Shiite coordination framework on Sunday announced a counter-protest in Baghdad, after populist leader Muqtada al-Sadr the same day called for a ‘revolution’ for reform

The Iran-aligned Coordination Framework said they will protest tomorrow at 5PM in Baghdad, leading to fear among experts and Iraqi-based diplomats for an escalation.

Supporters of Sadr continued to occupy the Iraqi parliament for the second day on Sunday to protest the nomination of the Coordinating Framework candidate for Prime Minister, Mohammad Shiya al-Sudani.

Fanar Haddad, assistant professor at the University of Copenhagen, told Kurdistan 24 that Sadr seems to be doubling down on his position.

“His last tweet doesn't leave much room for compromise. He is pushing his rivals into a corner whereby they either dance to his tune or face him in an armed confrontation,” he said.

“In case of the latter, I think Sadr will have the upper hand - not least because the formal ISF (Iraqi Security Forces) will likely side with him.”

Haddad said Sadr is positioning himself “as the patron of anti-systemic protest that goes beyond his Sadrist base and, by extension, as the patron of any reconfigured Sadrist dominated power sharing arrangement.”

Earlier this year, Sadr and his allies failed to form a "national majority government" following Iraq’s October 2021 parliamentary elections.

Yerevan Saeed, Arab Gulf States Institute in Washington DC earlier told Kurdistan 24 that the confrontation between the Sadr movement and the Coordination Framework could lead to chaos.

“The confrontations of these two different camps on the street without independent security forces to mediate between them could lead to disasters.”

https://www.kurdistan24.net/en/story/29 ... terprotest
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Re: War-scarred Iraq sinks deeper into political crisis

PostAuthor: Anthea » Fri Aug 05, 2022 11:20 am

Sadr rival bloc wants elections

The pro-Iran Shiite parliamentary faction known as the Coordination Framework on Thursday said that it supports any “constitutional path” to resolve the current political impasse in Iraq, including holding snap elections, a day after rival Muqtada al-Sadr called for an early vote

Influential Shiite leader Sadr on Wednesday called for the dissolution of the current legislature and holding a snap parliamentary vote in Iraq amidst demonstrations and a sit-in at the Iraqi parliament building by his supporters in protest of the Coordination’s Framework prime minister pick.

“The Coordination Framework affirms its support for any constitutional path to resolve the political crises and achieving the interests of the people, including early elections,” read a statement from the Shiite alliance on Thursday evening.

The statement added that the “constitutional institutions” must be respected and that a safe environment must be provided for the process to occur.

The remarks were reemphasized by the faction’s most prominent figure, former Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, who stated that sticking to the constitutional and legal mechanisms was “the only option” to prevent crises from occurring, stressing that new elections must be free from the “tampering process” that previous elections were subjected to.

Iraq held early elections in October 2021, in response to massive protests across the country in 2019 against corruption and lack of employment. The Coordination Framework quickly rejected the results of the elections, alleging fraud and calling for the abolishment of the vote.

The Sadrist Movement emerged as the bloc with the highest number of seats in the vote gaining 73 seats, almost double the number of its closest competition, the Sunni Taqadum Alliance, which gained 37 seats.

All 73 Sadrist MPs resigned from the parliament in June upon the call of their leader Sadr, who referred to their withdrawal from the legislature as a “sacrifice” to end the political deadlock that has plagued Iraq since October’s elections.

With Iraq’s political scene now more uncertain than ever, Sadrist supporters are set to gather for mass prayer in Baghdad on Friday, honoring a tradition of Mohammed Sadiq al-Sadr, Sadr’s father, who united masses of Shiites in Friday prayer, as a sign of opposing the rule of toppled Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein.

This would mark the Sadrists’ second mass prayer within the last four weeks.

https://www.rudaw.net/english/middleeast/iraq/05082022

Shiite/Shia ve Sunni

Been the same since Mohammad's death

Both groups have killed

The fundamentalist Sunnis have killed hundreds of thousands of Shia and others

The Shia have probably killed more people - remember Anfal

In my personal opinion, Iraq should be divided between these 2 groups of savages - because they are dangerous savages and for the safety for the people of Iraq they need to be kept apart

The poor Kurds who have unfortunately had much of their traditional culture and way of life destroyed by Islam - Kurds did NOT become Muslims by choice - now see even more of their culture vanishing - the once richly dressed Kurdish ladies are now being forced into oppressive black rubbish sacks - the men no longer singing as they once did :((
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Re: War-scarred Iraq sinks deeper into political crisis

PostAuthor: Anthea » Thu Aug 11, 2022 6:33 pm

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Snap Iraqi elections good step

The leaders of the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) and the Sunni Sovereignty Alliance on Thursday called the idea of a snap parliamentary election in Iraq a “good step” towards ending the political impasse that has plagued Iraq since the October 2021 elections

KDP President Masoud Barzani received Khamis al-Khanjar, head of the Sovereignty Alliance, in Erbil on Thursday, exchanging views regarding the political climate in Iraq, especially after calls from their former ally in the Save the Homeland Alliance, Muqtada al-Sadr, for the dissolution of the parliament and the holding of a new snap parliamentary election.

“In regards to the Council of Representatives snap election, both sides agreed that the snap election would be a good step, provided that all parties abide by its results,” read a statement from Barzani’s office following the meeting.

Barzani and Khanjar also stressed that any new initiative must be aimed towards resolving the outstanding issues in Iraq and bringing an end to the political crisis, according to the statement.

The KDP, the Sovereignty Alliance, and the Sadrist Movement were in a tripartite alliance that tried to form a national majority government, considering that they were the winning Kurdish, Sunni, and Shiite blocs of the Iraqi parliamentary elections respectively. The alliance was dissolved following the resignation of the Sadrist Movement MPs in June.

Iraq is currently experiencing an alarming state of political unrest and instability, with repeated calls for nationwide protests, and a demand for the dissolution of the parliament by Sadrist supporters. The current legislature has failed to form a government 10 months following October’s snap elections.

https://www.rudaw.net/english/middleeast/iraq/110820222

I think that all the so-called disputed lands (stolen Kurdish lands) should be returned to the Kurds and Iraq should be divided into 3

The Sunni and Shia have been fighting for centuries - after what the Shia did to Kurds we know that they can never be trusted - as for the Sunni, we know that ISIS was widely supported by the Sunni population in general mostly due to Shia attacks on Sunni families, including imprisoning innocent Sunni wives, raping, torturing and often killing them - in fact had the world as a whole stepped in to support the Sunni against the savage Shia, the Sunni may not have become the more fundamental and widely supported ISIS

PS:
Turkey is an Islamic State - it supported the rise of Sunni fundamentalism - my friend Mizgin warned us about this YEARS before anyone else became aware of what was happening
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Re: War-scarred Iraq sinks deeper into political crisis

PostAuthor: Anthea » Mon Aug 15, 2022 8:57 pm

Political forces to hold dialogue

The Sunni Azm Alliance on Monday called on Iraq’s political blocs and figures to engage in dialogue to resolve the ongoing political impasse, stressing the importance of unifying efforts to achieve the common goals of the different parties

“We call on the political and parliamentary blocs and figures in the liberated governorates to start a serious political and social dialogue which aims to resolve the political deadlock,” read a statement from the Azm Alliance on Monday.

The call from the Sunni alliance comes amid a deepening political crisis in Iraq, with calls from influential Shiite leader Muqtada al-Sadr for the dissolution of the parliament and holding of snap parliamentary elections, while his supporters continue sit-in protests in Baghdad’s fortified Green Zone.

The statement from Azm said that their call for dialogue is out of their “national and social” responsibility, and in compliance with the promises they have made to their supporters prior to the parliamentary elections of 2021.

Muthanna al-Samarrai, head of the Azm Alliance, on Saturday received head of Fatih Alliance Hadi al-Amiri, exchanging views regarding the current political state in Iraq, as the latter continues to convene with the heads of the Iraqi parliament’s main blocs, emphasizing the significance of holding dialogue to put an end to the political impasse.

The Sadrist supporters are set to hold “million-man” protests on Saturday afternoon from Tahrir Square to the Grand Festivities Square in Baghdad, continuing the grand display of support for the calls of their leader.

Thousands of Iraqis took to the streets in anti-government protests in October 2019, leading to snap parliamentary elections in October 2021. Nonetheless, the elected legislature has failed to form a new government 10 months following October’s vote, due to continued disagreement between the parliament’s main blocs over the mechanisms of its formation.

https://www.rudaw.net/english/middleeast/iraq/150820222
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Re: War-scarred Iraq sinks deeper into political crisis

PostAuthor: Anthea » Sat Aug 20, 2022 12:24 am

Iraq protest camps dig in for long haul

In the capital of crisis-torn Iraq, two tent cities have sprung up as rival Shiite blocs have set up protest camps, complete with cooked meals and air-conditioners against the blistering heat

As the war-scarred country's political impasse has dragged on ever since inconclusive October elections, both sides are digging in for the long haul in and near Baghdad's high-security Green Zone.

Supporters of firebrand cleric and political kingmaker Moqtada Sadr, who has hundreds of thousands at his beck and call, came in late July when they stormed parliament and then set up camp on the lawns outside.

The gathering is a show of strength by Sadrists against their Shiite opponents from a pro-Iran faction called the Coordination Framework, in the midst of a tug-of-war over Iraq's political future.

The pro-Iranian group followed suit by organising their own sit-in, on an avenue leading to the Green Zone, the district housing government institutions and foreign embassies.

The camps are organised in the "mawkeb" tradition, where stalls provide food and drinks to pilgrims during Ashura and Arbaeen - two major festivals on the Shiite Muslim calendar - on their journey to the holy city of Karbala.

"We grabbed our pillows and came," Fadel Rahman, a 33-year-old Sadrist, told AFP.

Along with about 20 other people, he said he helped to finance a mawkeb with a contribution of about $170.

"We serve meals to the protesters. There is tea and cold water, which is the most important thing in this heat," Rahman said, as temperatures soared above 40 degrees Celsius (104 Fahrenheit).

His demand is "to remove the corrupt" - a catch cry of Sadrists who are seeking the dissolution of parliament and an early general election.

Mobile canteen

More than 10 months on from Iraq's last legislative election, the country still lacks a prime minister and government.

Negotiations to end the crisis have stalled against a backdrop of behind-the-scenes haggling and a flood of bitter invective between the two rival camps.

The avenue leading to the parliament building in Baghdad is lined by colourful tents shielding the Sadrists from the sun.

In all, their camp is supplied by 70 mawakeb, dishing out around 100 kilograms (220 pounds) each day of rice alone, as well as other food and drinks, at a cost of $4,000, an organiser told AFP.

The lucky ones have mobile air-conditioners that are plugged into the parliament's power supply. Sandwiches are distributed to them by volunteers.

Tents set up by supporters of Shiite cleric Moqtada Sadr, as they continue to protest against the nomination of a rival Shiite faction for the position of prime minister, outside the Iraqi parliament building in the Green Zone of the capital Baghdad.

The back of a pick-up truck has been transformed into a mobile canteen where stews, rice and beans simmer in large pots.

"Every night we get together with my friends to decide on the next day's menu," said Mohamed Hussein, 33, sweating under the sun as he served up lunch.

Any form of support

In the opposing camp, supporters of the Coordination Framework are less numerous than the Sadrists.

They have occupied an avenue leading to the Green Zone for a week, demanding a government capable of improving the daily lives of Iraqis and solving electricity and water shortages, among other problems.

A banner hanging from a tent calls for "Respect for state institutions, especially the legislative and judicial branches".

The Coordination Framework is also seeking support from the mawakeb, according to one official.

"Thousands of people are affected by the delay in forming the government. They are willing to provide any form of support for a government to be formed," he said, asking to remain anonymous.

One of the protesters at the sit-in, 45-year-old Abu Ali al-Zayadi, said it was here to stay "until the realisation of our legitimate demands, and especially the formation of a government".

https://www.kurdistan24.net/en/story/29 ... -long-haul
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Re: War-scarred Iraq sinks deeper into political crisis

PostAuthor: Anthea » Sat Aug 20, 2022 4:32 pm

Sadr calls UN response insufficient

Iraqi Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr on Saturday said that a proposal for a live streamed dialogue session had been submitted to the United Nations (UN) but received an unsatisfactory response

The UN's response to Sadr's proposal was deemed insufficient by the latter, who said "their answer did not include anything about reform, the demands of the revolutionaries, nor what the people are suffering from" in a tweet.

Iraqi and Kurdish leaders of political parties attended a "national dialogue" chaired by Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi on Wednesday and attended by UN Assistance Mission to Iraq (UNAMI) head Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert.

The session was boycotted by the Sadrist Movement, who refused to clarify a reason for their absence.

"I will not sit with the corrupt and those who want evil," Sadr said.

Earlier this month, Sadr called on the Iraqi judiciary to dissolve the parliament and task the president with setting early elections, a request which was disregarded by the judiciary who said it lacks the authority to dissolve parliament.

Iraq has failed to form a government over ten months after it held early elections in October, largely due to disagreements between Sadr and the pro-Iran Coordination Framework. There are ongoing sit-ins in Baghdad by supporters of both sides.

Sadr recently announced the indefinite postponing of a "million-man" demonstration by his supporters in Baghdad which was set to take place on Saturday, August 20 "out of love and infatuation for its [Iraq's] people and sanctities."

Sadr emerged victorious from the October elections winning the most seats in the parliament but ordered his 73 MPs to resign from the legislature due to the continued obstruction of his attempts to form a national majority government by the Coordination Framework, who instead vied for a government based on political consensus.

https://www.rudaw.net/english/middleeast/iraq/20082022
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Re: War-scarred Iraq sinks deeper into political crisis

PostAuthor: Anthea » Fri Aug 26, 2022 2:18 am

Another day of sit-ins

Supporters of influential Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr continue their weeks-long sit-in in Baghdad’s fortified Green Zone even hours after the eyes of the media leave the scene, keeping themselves entertained with music, food, sports, and each other’s company

Young men, all roughly in their early twenties or younger, are lined up to inspect those wanting to enter the Green Zone, in order to ensure the security of their fellow Sadrist supporters who are laying down inside the tents they have set up.

Echoing the same demands made by their leader for the dissolution of parliament, the protesters yearn for a complete reformation of the political scene in Iraq and demand a government free of corruption.

“God willing, [we are seeking] a change from the roots. Changing the parliament. Dissolving the parliament. A change from the roots to create a government with no more corruption,” 20-year-old Baqir Qasim, named after Sadr’s father Mohammed Baqir al-Sadr, told Rudaw English on Wednesday evening.

Each tent represents a separate parade or tribe, yet most of them offer free meals, fruit, and drinks to all the supporters equally. They queue in line for fresh bread, meat pies, pastries, and other goods, as they recharge their energy in preparation for another day in the scorching hot temperatures.

Others battle the boredom by grouping into teams and playing football matches between themselves, in front of the podium where local clerics have delivered “Friday of Unity” sermons since the start of the protests in late July, honoring a tradition initiated by Sadr’s father who united thousands of Shiites in weekly prayer as a symbol of opposition to former Iraqi dictator Sadam Hussein’s government.

The Sadrist Movement, which emerged from the October elections with the highest number of seats, withdrew from the parliament in June after a prolonged disagreement with rivals Coordination Framework, a pro-Iran Shiite faction, over the formation of Iraq’s next government.

Supporters of Sadr have held sit-in protests near the Iraqi parliament building since late July, decrying the delay in government formation and demanding snap parliamentary election after dissolving the current legislature.

“The protests of 2019 and the protests now are the same. We are all Iraqis demanding our rights,” Baqir claimed, “his eminence Sadr is an Iraqi citizen just like all of us and wants to rid the country of corruption.”

Muadh Abdulsalam, who graduated from surveying engineering over a year ago but now works as a Taxi driver due to lack of employment, felt differently towards the protests, saying that he was not optimistic about the demonstrations’ capability of producing real change in Iraq.

“There is no change. It is always the same people,” decried Abdulsalam, “I did not even participate in the elections. Nor did my family.”

Thousands of Iraqis took to the streets in October 2019 in anti-corruption protests, resulting in early elections in October 2021. Nonetheless, the elected legislature has failed to form a new cabinet over 10 months later due to continued disagreements between the political blocs.

https://www.rudaw.net/english/middleeast/iraq/250820221
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Re: War-scarred Iraq sinks deeper into political crisis

PostAuthor: Anthea » Fri Aug 26, 2022 10:12 am

Dissolving Iraqi parliament

ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – The Iraqi Federal Supreme Court is set to convene on August 30 to rule on a case regarding dissolving the country’s parliament and holding early elections, per the judiciary’s statement

The case has been brought up to the top court by the Sadrist Movement’s Secretary General Nassar Zughayer Al-Rubaie, the statement noted.

Powerful Shiite cleric Moqtada Al-Sadr, the head of the movement, has been pushing for dissolving the legislature and holding a new election after he withdraw his 73-parliamentarians bloc in June.

The Supreme Judicial Council has previously announced dissolving the parliament is not within its jurisdiction.

Al-Sadr’s supporters most recently staged a sit-in in front of the council’s building in Baghdad, stressing their leader’s demands.

In protest of the gathering, the judicial authorities decided to suspend their work across the country. Soon after, the cleric advised his followers to withdraw from the venue.

The pro-Iran Shiite Coordination Framework, Al-Sadr’s main rival, has been calling for forming a government and electing a president for the country before a new round of polls. More than nine months have passed since Iraq’s October elections.

Several initiatives for holding a national dialogue among the parties have been announced by the political elites to overcome the political impasse. But none have materialized.

https://www.kurdistan24.net/en/story/29 ... parliament
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Re: War-scarred Iraq sinks deeper into political crisis

PostAuthor: Anthea » Sun Aug 28, 2022 12:32 am

Sadr gives 72 hour ultimatum

Iraq’s Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr on Saturday gave a three day ultimatum to Iraqi political parties, saying he would sign an agreement only with people that have not been a part of the government since 2003

“There is something more important than dissolving the parliament and holding early elections, and the most important thing is: the non-participation of all parties and personalities that have participated in the political process since the American occupation in 2003 until today,” read a statement from Salih Mohammed al-Iraqi, a figure close to Sadr, adding that such principle also applies for the Sadrists.

The statement set a deadline of 72 hours, during which Sadr would sign an agreement with parties that are interested in his initiative.

“If this is not achieved, then there is no room for reform, and therefore there will be no need for me to interfere with what happens in the future, with a tweet or otherwise,” the statement added.

Sadrist supporters expanded their protests towards the gates of the Supreme Judicial Council building on Tuesday, after a request from Sadr to dissolve the current parliament was rejected by the judiciary, saying the body lacks the authority to interfere in legislative or executive matters.

The situation escalated late last month after supporters of both sides organized large demonstrations in Baghdad and Sadr loyalists stormed the Iraqi parliament. Supporters of the latter continue to stage sit-ins outside the Green Zone.

Iraq held snap parliamentary elections in October but disagreements prevented political parties from electing a president and a prime minister for the country.

Sadr, whose movement became the kingmakers of the vote by winning 73 seats, ordered all of his parliamentarians to resign from the parliament in June, making the pro-Iran Coordination Framework the largest coalition.

Supporters of the Shiite cleric labeled the Coordination Framework's pick for PM as "corrupt" and accused him of having close ties to former premier Nouri al-Maliki.

Iraq is currently experiencing a record period without a government as the country has passed ten months without a new cabinet.

https://www.rudaw.net/english/middleeast/iraq/270820221
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Re: War-scarred Iraq sinks deeper into political crisis

PostAuthor: Anthea » Mon Aug 29, 2022 12:37 am

Iraq's Sadr AGAIN

Iraq's powerful Shiite Muslim leader Moqtada Sadr on Saturday said "all parties" including his own should give up government positions in order to help resolve a months-long political crisis

Since the aftermath of the US-led invasion of 2003 that toppled longtime dictator Saddam Hussein, Iraq has been governed under a sectarian power-sharing system.

But since elections in October last year, political deadlock has left the country without a new government, prime minister or president, due to disagreement between factions over forming a coalition.

Sadr and his supporters have been calling for parliament to be dissolved and for new elections, but on Saturday he said doing so was not "so important".

Instead, it is "more important" that "all parties and figures who have been part of the political process from the American occupation in 2003 until now no longer participate", Sadr said on Twitter.

"That includes the Sadrist movement," he added.

"I am ready to sign an agreement to this effect within 72 hours," he said, warning that without such a move, "there would no longer be anymore room for reforms."

He did not indicate who he expected would lead a future government.

Sadr's supporters have for weeks been staging a sit-in outside Iraq's parliament, after initially storming the legislature's interior, to press for their demands.

On Tuesday, they also pitched tents outside the judicial body's headquarters in Baghdad for several hours.

Sadr's rivals in the pro-Iran Coordination Framework want a new head of government to be appointed before any new polls are held.

Caretaker Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhemi earlier this month convened crisis talks with party leaders, but they were boycotted by the Sadrists.

https://www.kurdistan24.net/en/story/29 ... ment-posts
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Re: War-scarred Iraq sinks deeper into political crisis

PostAuthor: Anthea » Mon Aug 29, 2022 12:41 am

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Kurdish party leaders meet

ERBIL (Kurdistan24) – Kurdish political party leaders are set to meet at the Kurdistan Region Presidency sometime next week to discuss the Kurdistan parliamentary elections, said Hemin Hawrami, Deputy Speaker of Kurdistan Parliament

“Kurdistan Parliament is set to meet on September 7 to discuss Kurdistan parliamentary elections,” said Hawrami.

Hawrami pointed out that the parliament will need at least six months to finalize preparations starting when the political parties agree on holding the elections.

“Kurdistan Parliament Presidency tasked parliament’s legal committee to prepare the draft of the Kurdistan Region constitution,” said Hawrami. “Representatives of all Kurdistan political parties will participate in the discussions of the legal committee.”

Kurdistan elections are set to be held on October 1, and the current parliament’s term ends in November.

The issues of updating the electoral registry, minorities’ quota seats, and electoral constituencies have been the main points of contention between the political parties.

The Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) has favored holding the elections on time, as its officials have reiterated on numerous occasions. Other parties, however, have insisted on first amending the electoral law.

https://www.kurdistan24.net/en/story/29 ... -elections
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