Sadr and Abadi agree on ‘cross-sectarian’ coalition
Iraqi Shiite cleric Moqtada Al Sadr and Prime Minister Haider Al Abadi have announced a political coalition, taking the country a step closer to a new government.
The move, announced from the Shiite holy city of Najaf, follows nearly six weeks of negotiations after an election marred by record low voter turnout and allegations of fraud.
“We announce a cross-sectarian, cross-ethnic alliance to speed up forming the next government and to agree on common points that guarantee the interests of the Iraqi people,” Mr Al Sadr said on Saturday evening.
The populist cleric, who led violent campaigns against the US occupation that ended in 2011, has emerged as a champion of the poor and a nationalist opponent of powerful Shiite parties aligned with neighbouring Iran.
Mr Al Sadr promised voters he would form a technocratic government that would transcend the sectarian politics that have plagued the country since the 2003 US invasion.
Although he did not seek a seat, Mr Al Sadr’s bloc took 54 seats of the 329-seat parliament, followed by rival Shiite bloc Fatah led by Hadi Al Amiri, Iran’s closest ally in Iraq, with 47 seats.
The populist leader made no mention of his separate coalition with Mr Al Amiri’s bloc, which controls a powerful militia that operates in Iraq.
The prime minister, whose bloc came third, said the alliance with Mr Al Sadr was in “harmony with existing alignments”.
Mr Al Abadi and Mr Al Amiri are said to desire the position of prime minister, while Mr Al Sadr does not.
Mr Al Sadr made no mention of Nouri Al Maliki in the coalition to form Iraq’s next government, an apparently decisive setback for the former prime minister, who in the past has managed to cling to power despite rising unpopularity.
The Shiite cleric has previously vowed that he would not allow Mr Al Maliki to have another term as prime minister.
Last month’s elections were Iraq’s fourth since the US invasion that toppled former dictator Saddam Hussein, but the turnout was low because of widespread frustration at what is regarded as a dysfunctional political class.
Allegations of fraud further complicated the situation, leading to calls for a recount and new elections.