Announcement of the largest bloc

[Floridian]

IRAQ PULSE

Sadr allies with Iran-backed coalition to form government in Iraq

READ IN:    العربية

 

Ali Mamouri (Iraq Pulse) June 14, 2018 

•  

ARTICLE SUMMARY

In an unexpected move, the Sairoon Alliance led by Muqtada al-Sadr formed a coalition with the pro-Iranian Fatah Alliance, getting them close to a majority needed to form a new government.

 

 REUTERS/Alaa al-Marjani

Iraqi Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr speaks during a news conference with Hadi al-Amiri, the leader of the Fatah Alliance and the Iran-backed Shiite militia Badr Organization, Najaf, Iraq, June 12, 2018.

 

In the wake of the sudden coalition deal struck between Muqtada al-Sadr's Sairoon Alliance and the pro-Iran Fatah Alliance on June 12, the allied parties seem to be trying to soften the reactions of the opposing parties both inside and outside Iraq.

In an official statement aimed at reassuring Washington that the new coalition would not adopt a policy hostile to the United States in Iraq, Karim al-Nuri, a leader in the Fatah Alliance, denied June 13 that his alliance is facing US opposition, saying, “The new coalition is in tune with the vision of Iran and the United States,” meaning that the new government that will result from this coalition will maintain the post-2003 moderate policies adopted by the Iraqi governments in keeping the balance of power between Iran and the United States, work to satisfy the two parties in Iraq and seek to keep their rivalry from affecting the country.

The new coalition is also trying to reassure the religious authority in Najaf that it will be following the directives the authority issued before the recent elections. Nuri said that the new coalition would also “satisfy the religious authority.” Top Shiite cleric Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani had expressed his outright opposition to the participation in the elections of the Popular Mobilization Units grouped under the Fatah Alliance.

Nuri called on other blocs to join the coalition in order to accelerate the formation of the new government. “This new coalition is open to all blocs and political parties,” he said, as he expected “other political blocs to join the coalition during the next few days.”

In a joint news conference held by Sadr and Fatah Alliance leader Hadi al-Ameri following the agreement on the coalition deal, Sadr said, “Fatah’s alliance with Sairoon maintains the tripartite alliance between the Sairoon Alliance, the National Wisdom Movement and Al-Wataniya Alliance.”

Sadr had signed a coalition deal with both Al-Wataniya Alliance led by Vice President Ayad Allawi, which includes a large number of Sunni members of parliament, and the Shiite National Wisdom Movement led by Ammar al-Hakim.

This deal brings the coalition close to having a majority capable of forming a government, as the Sairoon Alliance has 54 seats, the Fatah Alliance 47, Al-Wataniya Alliance 21 and the National Wisdom Movement 19, which brings the total to 141 seats. A majority of 165 out of the 329 parliament seats is needed to form a government, meaning that the new coalition only needs 24 more seats to proceed.

The two main Kurdish parties — the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) and the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) — welcomed in a joint statement the recent coalition deal between the Sairoon Alliance and Fatah Alliance, and described the coalition as a “positive development” that marks the first step on a political road map aimed at breaking the political deadlock. The KDP and PUK indicated that they will be forming a joint delegation to start talks with the new coalition.

If the two Kurdish parties, which won 25 seats and 19 seats, respectively, do join the new coalition, then the latter would have 185 seats, which is more than enough to form the next government.

Also, the State of Law Coalition, which won 25 seats and is led by former Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, might join the new coalition between Sairoon and Fatah. Qais al-Khazali, the leader of Asaib Ahl al-Haq bloc within the Fatah list, met with Maliki June 13 to discuss “the political and security developments in the country and the future of the political process in light of the current developments,” according to a joint statement issued by the two. They asserted the “need to form a comprehensive national alliance capable of building state institutions and involving everyone in the development of the next government program.”

All this means that outgoing Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi and his coalition would be excluded from the next government, as there will be no need for Abadi in the new coalition. And even if Abadi does join the coalition, he would not have a major role to play, which means that he would have no chance of maintaining the post of prime minister.

These rapid developments come in the wake of several bombings that targeted Baghdad, most notably the explosion June 6 in the arms depot of Sadr City, which is predominantly loyal to Sadr, as well as the June 10 burning of the warehouse where ballot boxes were kept in the Rusafa district of Baghdad.

The growing differences over the results of the recent elections have deepened the tension plaguing the country, which prompted several political parties, including Sadr himself, to warn against the outbreak of civil war in Iraq.

All indicators show that the recent coalition deal comes following pressure placed on both Sairoon and Fatah, as there had been no previous preparations for such a deal, which was concluded very quickly amid the recent tension.

Nuri confirmed his alliance’s coalition deal with Sairoon is “a big and powerful coalition between two big and powerful alliances that no one can aggravate the situation without. This coalition is a message of reassurance to the Iraqi people before proceeding to form the largest parliamentary bloc concerned with forming a government.”

He explained that this is “a message to all to lift the tension and ward off the specter of civil war, all the while excluding the option of repeating the elections. This message seeks to alleviate the burden weighing on the shoulders of the Iraqi people.”

The new coalition is seen as a victory for Iran's policy in Iraq, as Iran will be able to maintain its influence through the pro-Iran Fatah Alliance. This alliance is allied with the Sairoon Alliance, which shares Iran's hostility toward the United States.

The new coalition has also raised the ire of Saudi Arabia. Saudi writer Jamal Khashoggi called it “frustrating for those who already rushed to spread the news whereby Iraq has returned to its Arab environment. This is what happens to those who anticipate the results and live in the illusion of virtual victories.”

The most difficult choice is in the hands of the Communist Party and the civil movement, which is allied with Sadr in the Sairoon Alliance, as their election promises focused on getting rid of sectarian quotas and regional alliances and looking toward a new government that fights both corruption and the failure to manage the Iraqi state since 2003. It does not look like the new coalition will fulfill this ambition.

Read more: http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2018/06/iraq-election-muqtada-sadr-sairoon-fatah-hadi-amiri-iran.html#ixzz5ITakVfT7

Edited June 15, 2018 by Floridian

[Floridian]

Barzani Party:  We will go to join the alliance between Sadr and Amiri after the feast

June 14, 2018

Policy  2018/06/15 00:50  242  Editor: nn

Baghdad today – Kurdistan

The Kurdistan Democratic Party, led by Massoud Barzani, on Thursday night, on Friday, the alliance of the leader of the alliance of followers of Moqtada al-Sadr with the alliance of the conquest of Hadi al-Ameri, to form the largest bloc in the Iraqi parliament.

Party member Dana Jaza said in an interview with “Baghdad today” that “the coalition announced yesterday between Sadr and led by Hadi al-Amiri, a bold and important step,” noting that “this step will pave the way for Kurdish parties to join after the holiday of Eid al-Fitr, Democratic. ”

“The Kurdish parties want to go unified to enter this alliance and do not want to go apart because it is not in the interest of the Kurds and reduce the gains they will receive, especially those related to the rights of the Kurdish people and the obligations to Baghdad to implement.”

The leader of the Sadrist movement, Moqtada al-Sadr, has announced on Tuesday (13 June 2018), the accession of the alliance led by Hadi al-Amiri alliance to move to form the largest bloc within the Iraqi parliament.

Sadr said during a joint press conference with the leader of the Fatah alliance Hadi al-Ameri, held in the house of the first in Hananah Najaf, after a meeting of the parties, that “the alliance of conquest entered with others in the national space.”

He added that “the new alliance comes with the preservation of the tripartite alliance between Sawson and the National Coalition and the stream of wisdom.”

Sadr met Amiri on May 20 at his residence in Baghdad and discussed developments in the country’s political process and the results of the 2018 legislative elections and ways of forming a “patriarchal” government that reflects the aspirations of the people.

This comes after the developments witnessed by the file of the elections and their results, from the adoption of the third amendment to the election law and the burning of the warehouses of the Electoral Commission in Rusafa, and its consequences, which is expected to resolve and spare the country a constitutional vacuum, through the formation of the next government.

http://baghdadtoday.news/ar/

 

[jeepguy]

stay tuned  " more  fun and excitement on the way "  

[Officiallytook]

https://www.axios.com/pro-iran-coalition-in-iraq-almost-has-enough-seats-to-form-government-7f971353-9ac8-4f4a-9fce-a28389730bc2.html

 

Found this in my news feed and they posted another Iraq article 10hrs ago about "forgotten wars"

[yota691]

 

 

 

Iraq: the accession of "will" and "competencies" to the alliance "conquest"

 

Baghdad Baraa al - Shammari

15 June 2018

 

Political officials in Baghdad said, for "new Arab", that my "will" and "competencies" and agreed to join the list of "conquest" led by Hadi al -Ameri , which allied itself last Wednesday with a coalition of "moving" led by Muqtada al - Sadr , in the efforts to form the largest bloc , In a clear indication of the return of sectarian alignments in Iraq. 

According to political sources in Baghdad, an agreement has been reached on the joining of the "Irada" bloc led by Hanan al-Fatlawi (3 seats in parliament) and "competencies" led by Haitham al-Jubouri (3 seats) to the alliance "Fatah", which represents politically wing of the militia " Popular ", bringing the number of seats in the coalition to 53 seats compared to 54 seats for the alliance," Saron "

The current alliances reflect a clear return  to sectarian strife in Iraq within the political arena. 

Officials and politicians in Baghdad, in an interview with the "New Arab", on Friday, "the initial and conditional approval of the leader of the Sadrist movement to join Nuri al-Maliki alliance with the alliance," the conquest, "as well as the alliance," wisdom "led by Ammar al-Hakim, "And" competencies ". 

In the context of the former Iraqi MP Wael Abdul Latif, the alliance between "Sorrow" and "Fath" a step to re-fill the "National Alliance" ruling, indicating, in a press statement, that "this alliance may be able to collect 187 seats representing all parties And "Shiite" formations.

He added that "this alliance will be able to form the largest bloc in 187 seats with great leisure," pointing out that "the presence of other moves aimed at filling the house," the Sunni, "and another for the Kurdish house, and this indicates that Iraq is unable to get out of the quota.

 While the Kurds and Sunnis are waiting for the latest political developments and the collapse of the cross-sectarian bloc project that was expected a few days ago, Turkmen Turkmen is cautiously looking at the newly formed "Shiite" alliance and subsequent "Sunni" and Kurdish alliances. 

The Turkmen parliamentarian Hassan Tauran confirmed that he feared that the Turkoman rights would be subject to political bargaining, expressing his fear that the Turkmen areas liberated from the control of the terrorist organization "Da'ash" were vulnerable to political deals. 

He pointed out that the political understandings should not be limited to "Sunnis, Shiites and Kurds" only, but must be involved in other components, noting that "dialogues are now concentrated within the Shiite house, and was not involved other components."

"It is too early to announce alliances, because there are no real election results, and after the amendment we made in parliament, the results will be announced after the counting and manual counting and the ratification of the Federal Court," local media quoted Turan as saying.

 

 

[yota691]

 

Nechirvan Barzani: intensive talks with Baghdad after the Eid

Date of release: 2018/6/15 11:44 • 194 times read

(Baghdad: Al-Furat News) The head of the Kurdistan Regional Government, Nechirvan Barzani, support any step and initiative seeking to get out of the crisis and save the political process in Iraq.

Barzani said in a speech that "the initiative of Prime Minister Haider Abadi, can solve many of the internal and external problems if it pours and lead to serious talks to establish a broad coalition and the launch of an effective government." 
He added that "we look forward after the Eid holiday, to intensive discussions and responsible in Baghdad and with all parties concerned, for the purpose desired," noting that "we support any step and initiative seeking to get out of the crisis in Iraq."
Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi called on the political blocs to hold a high-level meeting immediately after the Eid al-Fitr holiday and in the place to be decided later after consultation "to put our hands in the hands of some to protect the homeland and citizens and ensure the integrity of the political process and democratic gains And agree on specific mechanisms to accelerate the formation of constitutional institutions as best as possible and relying on our national decision and the interests of our country and our people. "

[yota691]

Wael Abdel Latif: Presidency of the government will be outside the Dawa Party

17:00 - 14/06/2018

 

  

Information / Special ...

Former MP Wael Abdul Latif, on Thursday, an alliance with the conquest of the conquest as a step towards re-national coalition with 187 seats, indicating that the prime minister will be outside the Dawa Party.

Abd al-Latif told Al-Maaloumah that the Alliance of Surun and Fatah is a cornerstone for the re-establishment of the National Alliance by all parties and Shiite factions.

He added that "the coalition will be able to form the largest bloc of 187 seats with great leisure," adding that "the prime minister will be from outside the Dawa Party in the next session."

He added that "there are other moves along with Shiite movements to fill the Sunni house and the other Kurdish house," noting that "Iraq is unable to get out of the quota government."

The leader of the Sadrist movement, Mr. Moqtada al-Sadr, announced on Tuesday, the accession of the Fatah alliance to the tripartite alliance, which includes the wisdom, national and national.

[yota691]

 

Sources for "Al-Ghad Press": Abadi seeks "reconciliation" with Sistani for a second term

 

13:44 - 14 June 18

46129

Watch

 

 

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - 

Prime Minister Haidar al-Abadi is seeking reconciliation with Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani after he collided with a wall that has no second term, according to informed political sources. 

Sources close to the Shiite political houses, "Al-Ghad Press", that "the gates of Najaf, the Sistani, which called for reform and the fight against the corrupt is still firmly closed to Abadi."

"Abadi called political and religious figures from inside and outside of Iraq, Iran and Lebanon for the purpose of (reconciliation) with Sistani to soften his position, refusing to get a second term." 

The sources revealed that "Sistani does not believe that the Alliance (Al-Fath Al-Fath) will present a moderate Shi'ite figure to the prime minister whose mission is to launch an unflagging internal Iraqi dialogue to lead Iraq to safety." 

It is noteworthy that a political source has revealed to "tomorrow" Press, "on Tuesday, that the political and religious parties informed the leader of a coalition of state law, Nuri al-Maliki, the presence of (Vito) of the religious authority in Najaf, the supreme reference, Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani on the assumption of slaves Second term.

[yota691]

 

Sadr al-Amri: You deserve the post of prime minister and Qais al-Khazali brother Aziz

 

00:27 - 13 June 18

Last updated

00:32 - 13 June 18

53608

Watch

0

 

 

Baghdad / Al-Ghad Press:

An official source said on Wednesday that the leader of the Sadrist movement Moqtada al-Sadr, confirmed to the head of the Fatah alliance that he deserves the post of prime minister, denying the existence of any reservation on the presence of Qais al-Khazali within the Fatah alliance.

The source said that "Al-Ameri has contacted Sadr about 6 times since the results of the elections and missed him today," noting that "a closed meeting took place between the leader of the Sadrists, and the head of the Fatah alliance, Hadi al-Amiri, and the first deputy chairman of the political body Walid al-Karimawi. "

"Al-Amiri told Sadr that he is not a student of power, but he fears the anger of the people," the source said. "In return, Muqtada al-Sadr responded to Amiri that you deserve to be prime minister."

He pointed out that "al-Amiri referred to the presence of Khazali within the alliance of conquest and if there was a reservation by the chest on him," pointing out that "Sadr replied that there is no reservation on Khazali, brother Aziz and sons of Mohammed al-Sadr."

It is noteworthy that Sawson and Fatah, announced on Tuesday, during a joint news conference held by the leader of the Sadrist movement Moqtada al-Sadr and the head of the Fatah alliance Hadi al-Amri coalition formally to form the largest bloc in the next government.

[yota691]

The first official Kurdish comment on the initiative of Haider Abadi

 Twilight News    
 3 hours ago

The head of the Kurdistan Regional Government, Nechirvan Barzani, expressed support for the initiative of Iraqi Prime Minister Haidar al-Abadi to hold a meeting he said was at a high level to agree on how to move forward towards the formation of parliament and government. 
Barzani, deputy chairman of the Kurdistan Democratic Party, said in a statement that his party and the people of Kurdistan are seeking to get out of the crisis that threatens the overall political action in Iraq. And that his party supports any step and initiative seeking to get out of the unstable political situation in Iraq, and return to work on the basis of the Constitution and the adoption of laws to address the problems. 
"Therefore, the initiative of the Prime Minister, Dr. Haider Abadi, if it flows into this course and leads to serious talks in order to establish a broad coalition and the launch of an effective government, can solve many of the internal and external problems facing Iraq, welcome."
"After the Eid holiday, we look forward to intensive and responsible discussions in Baghdad and with all the parties concerned, for the sake of the desired end," he said. 
Parliamentary elections in May saw a drop in voter turnout and allegations of fraud, blocking talks on forming a new government. Parliament allowed a recount of votes across the country, while some politicians called for a re-election.

[Butifldrm]

12 hours ago, Pitcher said:

Thank you for all your posts Butifldrm.  Sorry my post was similar to yours. 

 

Pitcher, don't be sorry, I  was just posting articles that verified yours.  That's what we do.  So now after Eid it appears Abadi is going to hold a  National meeting, inclusive with all sects.  Smart move on his part,. IMO.  This is the type of government he wants to form.  Could turn out to be another National Reconciliation Meeting.  A meeting which moves the country and the election process forward.

[Butifldrm]

Nizhervan Barzani: We look forward to intensive discussions with officials in Baghdad after the Eid

 

50 views

15/06/2018

Erbil

The head of the Kurdistan government, Nigervan Barzani, said on Friday that he supports any move seeking to get out of the current crisis to save the political process in Iraq.

Barzani said in a statement received "Trend Press" a copy of it, that his party (the Kurdistan Democratic) and the people of Kurdistan, "seeking to get out of the crisis that threatens the overall political action in Iraq," noting that his party "supports any step and initiative seeking to get out of the political situation Stable in Iraq, and return to work on the basis of the Constitution and the adoption of laws to address the problems. "

He added: "Initiative, Prime Minister Haider Abadi, if it flows in this course and lead to serious talks to establish a broad coalition and the premise of the birth of an effective government, can solve many of the internal and external problems faced by Iraq, welcome.

"After the Eid holiday, we are looking forward to intensive and responsible discussions in Baghdad and with all parties concerned for the sake of the desired end," he said.

The Prime Minister Haider Abadi directed, on Thursday, an invitation to all political blocs to hold a high-level meeting after the Eid holiday, to agree on specific mechanisms to speed up the formation of constitutional institutions.

mt

http://aletejahtv.com/archives/234637

[Butifldrm]

JUNE 14, 2018 / 8:48 AM / UPDATED 21 HOURS AGO

Iraqi PM invites politicians to meet after Eid holiday

Reuters Staff

 

 

2 MIN READ

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi on Thursday invited Iraq’s political groups to meet after the Eid al-Fitr Muslim holiday and agree on how to move forward in establishing a new parliament and government.

May’s parliamentary election was marred by low turnout and allegations of fraud, stalling talks on forming a new government. Parliament mandated a nationwide manual recount of votes and some politicians called for it to be repeated.

“Despite the violations and irregularities that tainted the election, following legal methods, obeying the law and the constitution, is the only way to solve these problems and move towards forming a new parliament and a government,” he said in a pre-recorded address.

Abadi, who opposes a repeat of the election, said he was sure Iraq would come out of this “crisis stronger, united, and stable” and called for unity.

“I invite the political blocs to a high level meeting immediately after the Eid holiday ... so we can put our hands together in order to protect the nation, citizens, and to guarantee the safety of the political process and democratic gains as well as to agree on specific measures to speed up the formation of constitutional institutions.”

Eid al-Fitr follows the fasting month of Ramadan. The government announced the holiday would end on Tuesday.

Reporting by Ahmed Aboulenein; Editing by Ulf Laessing and Alison Williams

Our Standards:The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-iraq-election/iraqi-pm-invites-politicians-to-meet-after-eid-holiday-idUSKBN1JA1XR

[md11fr8dawg]

Personally, I think we could be screwed if the alliance occurs. JMHO.

[Butifldrm]

2018/06/15 01:19

Number of readings 1544

Section: Iraq

Consensus on the initiative of the Abbadi for dialogue: cut sectarian confinement and promote the whole project

BAGHDAD /  

The Alliance of Forces welcomes Abadi's initiative and prepares it for launching a comprehensive national project

 Welcomed the coalition of Iraqi forces, on Thursday , June 14, 2018, the  initiative of Prime Minister President of the coalition of victory Haider Abadi, considering it a step in the right direction towards the launch of the national project inclusive,  while called for a member of the Iraqi Council of Representatives, Hoda Sajjad, all political blocs to invest invitation Abadi, The Iraqi front for national dialogue, it supports the call of Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi to a dialogue table, saying that this will cut the way to "sectarian confinement."

The Alliance of Iraqi Forces in a statement, "We welcome the initiative of Prime Minister President of the coalition of victory Haider Abadi on his call for a table of national dialogue," considering it "a step in the right direction towards the launch of the national project inclusive." 

The alliance stressed that "the need to overcome the barriers of sect, component and nationalism has become an urgent need to frame a government program that produces a strong Iraqi government capable of economic construction and openness to the world."

The Alliance expressed its openness to all projects and initiatives based on partnership and cooperation between all components of the Iraqi people and their political forces. 
The Iraqi Front for National Dialogue said on Thursday that it supports the invitation of Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi to a dialogue table, saying that this would cut the way for "sectarian confinement".

He called on the political blocs to hold a meeting at a high level, saying: The meeting after the holiday immediately and in the place that is determined later after consultation to put our hands in the hands of some in order to protect the homeland and citizens and ensure the integrity of the political process and democratic gains and agree on specific mechanisms to accelerate the formation Constitutional institutions as best as possible and based on our national decision and the interests of our country and our people.

The obelisk

http://almasalah.com/ar/news/140304/اجماع-على-مبادرة-العبادي-للحوار-يقطع-التخندقات-الطائفية-ويعزز-المشروع-الجامع

[coorslite21]

27 minutes ago, md11fr8dawg said:

Personally, I think we could be screwed if the alliance occurs. JMHO.

 

I agree.....if true Iraq just can't seem to get out of their own way.......The Baghdad  Post, posted on this 2 weeks ago and I posted questioning if they were a legit media source.......or like the US NYTimes and WAPO.........if this pans out.....guess they are legit.....

 

I know some of the poo-roo's are saying Abadi is in office and can push the button right up till July 1st..........to help cement his legacy..........

 

So does anyone really think the PTB would allow this to happen if Iran is involved in this process at all ?

 

Any thoughts??........................CL

[Floridian]

2 hours ago, yota691 said:

 

Sadr al-Amri: You deserve the post of prime minister and Qais al-Khazali brother Aziz

 

00:27 - 13 June 18

Last updated

00:32 - 13 June 18

53608

Watch

0

 

 

Baghdad / Al-Ghad Press:

An official source said on Wednesday that the leader of the Sadrist movement Moqtada al-Sadr, confirmed to the head of the Fatah alliance that he deserves the post of prime minister, denying the existence of any reservation on the presence of Qais al-Khazali within the Fatah alliance.

The source said that "Al-Ameri has contacted Sadr about 6 times since the results of the elections and missed him today," noting that "a closed meeting took place between the leader of the Sadrists, and the head of the Fatah alliance, Hadi al-Amiri, and the first deputy chairman of the political body Walid al-Karimawi. "

"Al-Amiri told Sadr that he is not a student of power, but he fears the anger of the people," the source said. "In return, Muqtada al-Sadr responded to Amiri that you deserve to be prime minister."

He pointed out that "al-Amiri referred to the presence of Khazali within the alliance of conquest and if there was a reservation by the chest on him," pointing out that "Sadr replied that there is no reservation on Khazali, brother Aziz and sons of Mohammed al-Sadr."

It is noteworthy that Sawson and Fatah, announced on Tuesday, during a joint news conference held by the leader of the Sadrist movement Moqtada al-Sadr and the head of the Fatah alliance Hadi al-Amri coalition formally to form the largest bloc in the next government.

 

 

Al-Amiri told Sadr that he is not a student of power, but he fears the anger of the people," the source said. "In return, Muqtada al-Sadr responded to Amiri that you deserve to be prime minister."

 

(Amiri, is close with Iran.)

Edited June 15, 2018 by Floridian

[10 YEARS LATER]

Man ! Nothing but curve balls being thrown lately.

[DoD]

I think we have given Abadi way to much credit lately, he’s gonna end up stupiding away his chance to remain PM. He has made a lot of politicians mad over there an seems to be brushing al Sadr off like he’s nothing. 

I personally don’t think it matters who the PM is for what we’re looking for, I just keep referring back to what the CBI said, a suitable environment is needed....

[nannab]

So much for Sadr being for the people. 

[Floridian]

 

Analysis

Iran pushes Sadr alliance in Iraq to maintain clout

By AFP 9 hours ago 

Muqtada al-Sadr campaigned on eliminating corruption while appealing to Iraq's poorest areas during his run-up to Iraq's parliamentary election on May 12, 2018. Photo: Wathiq Khuzaie| Getty via AFP

By Salam Faraj

BAGHDAD, Iraq — A surprise alliance between the winners of Iraq's election appears to reflect manoeuvering by neighbouring Iran to form a broad Shiite coalition as it scrambles to protect its influence.

When nationalist cleric Moqtada Sadr's bloc scooped the most seats at May's poll it was seen as a blow for Tehran, long the dominant foreign player in conflict-hit Iraq.

Shiite firebrand Sadr had railed against both the influence of Iran and the United States, even drawing closer to Tehran's arch-foe Saudi Arabia as he insisted Iraqis should run their own affairs.

So an announcement on Tuesday that he was linking up with the pro-Iranian former fighters under Hadi al-Ameri who finished second at the election was a shock to Iraq's political class.

Insiders said the unlikely tie-up to try to form a new government came after Iran decided that if it couldn't beat Sadr, then it might be better to seek to join him.

In the immediate aftermath of the vote, Tehran had launched a political offensive to try to unite its allies and block Sadr's path to power.

But Iran changed tack on realising pushing the popular cleric aside was too problematic, and instead sought to include Sadr in a Shiite alliance broad enough to neutralise his influence.

At a meeting Sunday with Ameri and former premier Nuri al-Maliki at Iran's embassy in Baghdad, top emissaries from Tehran apparently endorsed a link-up with Sadr as the lesser of two evils.

"Dismissing Moqtada Sadr could allow him to assemble other groups and increase the criticism levelled at Iran's role in Iraq," said a source close to participants of the meeting.

The gathering involved influential Iranian general Qassem Soleimani and Mojtaba Khamenei, son of supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Soleimani used the opportunity to call for "a strong government, far from American and Saudi pressure and from foreign interference", the same source told AFP.

If the broad Shiite alliance gets off the ground Iran will be "the first to support the next government in Iraq," Soleimani was quote as saying.

'Pragmatic' politicians

Ahmad al-Assadi, spokesman for Ameri's Conquest Alliance, said it was natural that outside powers were interested in what was happening in Iraq.

Developments in the country are "important for neighbouring countries and great powers, especially Iran and the US", he told AFP.

Iran has become the major player since the US-led invasion of 2003, while the Americans led a coalition to oust the Islamic State group last year.

"It's evident that their representatives in Iraq follow the situation, pose questions and offer advice," Assadi said.

While the alliance between Ameri and Sadr might appear unlikely, analysts said both have a track record as practical politicians.

Ahead of the elections they pitched themselves as outsiders looking to sweep clean the tarnished elite that has dominated Iraq since the ouster of Saddam Hussein.

"Pragmatic positioning rather than ideology has governed their behaviour in recent years," said Iraq analyst Fanar Haddad.

He said that even if a government turned out to be ostensibly closer to Tehran it could not shut out US influence entirely.

"Messaging and ideology aside, practically speaking no Iraqi government today — especially a broad coalition as the next one is likely to be — can actually be anti-Iranian or anti-American," he said.

A broad coalition

As the coalition government materialises, three candidates have emerged for the post of prime minister.

They are outgoing premier Haider al-Abadi, his interior minister Qassem al-Araji who is close to Ameri, and Mohammad al-Sudani, a former rights minister under Maliki.

"There will be other candidates but the Shiite alliance must choose two who will be put to a vote by the new parliament," the source from the embassy meeting said.

The alliance sealed at Sadr's home in Najaf, south of Baghdad, is however just the first step towards an even larger coalition according to Assadi.

"We have invited all of the lists elected to participate in writing a government programme which they will agree on," he said.

Sadr has already signed a coalition agreement with Shiite Ammar al-Hakim's Al-Hikma list and the secular outgoing vice-president Iyad Allawi, whose list was comprised largely of Sunnis.

But for some within the cleric's Marching Towards Reform alliance — a coupling of Sadr supporters and communists — the vision is different.

Raed Fahmi, head of the Iraqi Communist Party, said he is seeking a pro-reform alliance and has found common ground with Ameri's Conquest Alliance.

"But that's not the case with all of the groups and we are not looking to put together a Shiite alliance," he said, singling out Maliki's bloc.

"We campaigned against corruption and for the renewal of the political class."

 

http://www.rudaw.net/english/analysis/15062018

 

 

[DWS112]

"One step" separates the stream of wisdom from the opposition

 

"The choice of mass to the opposition is in the absence of a" successful government program. " 

"Wisdom remains at the center of all the current movement and we are seeing a unified vision with our partners and we aspire to form a strong government with strong forces that go to the opposition," al-Mayahi told twilight news. 

"We believe that the option of the opposition will be present in some other powers as well if past experiences are cloned," he said. 
The stream of wisdom had entered the parliamentary elections alone in 2018 after splitting from the Islamic Supreme Council won nearly 19 parliamentary seats according to the results announced by the Independent High Electoral Commission. 

Less than a week ago, al-Sadr signed an agreement with the National Wisdom Movement led by Ammar al-Hakim, and with the nationalist coalition led by Iyad Allawi, a secularist movement whose list includes Sunni figures.

But Sadr decided to hold another alliance with the coalition led by Hadi al-Ameri, without the clear picture of the merger of the two alliances to reach the formation of the largest bloc.

[ChuckFinley]

6 hours ago, md11fr8dawg said:

Personally, I think we could be screwed if the alliance occurs. JMHO.

I would have to agree, not good. 

[Floridian]

The true: the biggest bloc in the next parliament will be a painful blow "to America"

16:45 - 15/06/2018

Information / special ..

It confirmed the true mass, Friday that the biggest bloc will form most of rejecting the US presence in Iraq blocs, where he will receive more than 250 seats in parliament, indicating that this combination represents a painful blow to the United States and its allies.

A spokesman for the bloc, Mahmoud al-Rubaie told / information /, that "the alliance between moving and opening it met all the blocks that reject the project and the American presence and resistance to him, and this is a real blow to the American project."

"The resulting from this coalition government will be realized to the will of the Iraqi people, who resisted the occupation and was sent off and defeated Daesh government will be representative of the parliament's decisions."

He explained that "the big heads in the new coalition are resisted US occupation, which is a blow to the United States, especially after its plans failed in Iraq."

And that "many speculations by the United States of supporting the opposition in order to hit the political process, which would be managed by them against the US presence, but the axis or the opposition front will not be so gravity is equal to what is the biggest bloc in the coalition."

He stressed that "the opposition front would not be equivalent to the biggest bloc, which will consist of more than 250 seats in the parliament," pointing out that "the opposition must be positive to evaluate the country and is not supported by the United States and with the front." It ended 25 n

http://www.almaalomah.com/2018/06/15/318422/

[mylilpony]

Botzwana I agree with you!!