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In a televised address, Shia leader Muktada al-Sadr called for the dissolution of the Iraqi parliament and early legislative elections. While the country is crippled by political disputes, he felt “not interested” in talks with his opponents.
In a context of total political paralysis, powerful Shia leader Muktada al-Sadr, in a televised speech, on Wednesday 3 August, called for the dissolution of the Iraqi parliament as well as early legislative elections.
According to the Iraqi constitution, parliament can only be dissolved by an absolute majority. It may be requested by a third of the deputies, or by the Prime Minister with the agreement of the President of the Republic.
Tensions escalated in Iraq when Muktada al-Sadr’s prime ministerial candidate was rejected by her opponents, the pro-Iranian Shi’ite factions that form an influential coordination framework.
“I am sure that the majority of the population is completely outraged by the ruling class, including some (politicians) related to my present,” the Shia leader admitted in his speech broadcast on local television on Wednesday evening. “From now on, there will be no more former figures, regardless of their affiliation”, he assured, proposing “a peaceful revolutionary democratic process, then early democratic elections after the dissolution of the current parliament”.
It is the first public statement from the troublemaker in Iraqi political life as his supporters stormed the parliament seat on Saturday in thousands to strike.
In search of head of government
The Sadrist Current won the last legislative election of October 2021, in which 73 were elected to a parliament of 329 deputies.
But in June, Muktada al-Sadr surprised his representatives by resigning, failing to appoint a prime minister and form a “majority” government with his allies.
Following this resignation, opponents of the coordination framework became the main Shia bloc within Hemicycle. The coalition includes a former paramilitary of Hachad al-Chabi and historical foe of Muqtada al-Sadr, the party of former prime minister Nouri al-Maliki. In late July, he submitted his candidacy for the post of prime minister to Mohamed Chia al-Soudani, a 52-year-old former minister and former provincial governor.
Nearly ten months of negotiations and political skirmishes between the parties have not allowed Iraq to appoint a new president or head of government of the republic.
Muktada al-Sadr launched a campaign of maximum pressure against his opponents, and demonstrated that he was still able to mobilize the crowd to advance his pawn: twice his supporters attacked parliament in late July. did, set up a camp.
He insisted, “Revolutionaries and protesters should join the dharna and continue their camp till the demands are implemented.”
call for frequent conversations
The Shia leader’s speech comes at a time when there is a growing demand for dialogue on the political scene.
“Serious dialogues that can give hope to resolve disputes (…) begin with respect to constitutional institutions”, a brief tweet in reference to the parliament’s capture on Wednesday evening launched in Nouri al-Maliki. Because in an effort to find a way out of the crisis, Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi, who handles current affairs, recently proposed a “national dialogue”.
The United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) also called for “meaningful dialogue” between all sides, saying it was “more urgent than ever”.
French President Emmanuel Macron also spoke to Iraqi leaders on Tuesday and told them “his concern about the situation in Iraq”, according to the Elysee. He called his availability “to contribute to dialogue and consultations” between the various parties, noting it “the only way that can help get out of the crisis”.
But talks are not on the agenda of Muktada al-Sadr. “We have already tried to negotiate with them and experienced, but it has brought nothing to us and the country, even despite their promises of ruin and corruption (…),” he Reprimanded. “No interest is expected from such dialogue”.
AFP. with