Friday AM Iraq Parliament News Highlights 8-5-22

Will Parliament Be Dissolved And Early Elections Held In Response To Al-Sadr's Call?

Sumerian special   2022-08-05 | 04:07  Source:   Sumerian  765 views  By calling for early elections, al-Sadr believes that he will achieve a great balance, that is, more seats than before, and this is what his political opponents fear in the next stage.   LINK

A New Comment By Al-Maliki Regarding The Early Elections

Policy  2022-08-04 | 16:38   Source:  Alsumaria news  14,739 views  The head of the State of Law coalition, Nuri al-Maliki, considered, on Thursday, that holding any early elections must take place in accordance with the constitution and national consensus.

Al-Maliki said in a statement, "We reiterate that adherence to the constitutional and legal mechanisms is the only option that spares Iraq the successive crises that inflicted severe damage on the higher interests of the Iraqi people and exposed civil peace to serious dangers."

He added, "Having any early elections must take place in accordance with the constitution and national consensus, in a way that enhances national unity and prevents a repetition of what happened in the previous elections, which witnessed an unprecedented process of manipulation, and we are still suffering from its negative repercussions and effects that caused a serious crack in the social fabric."

On Saturday (July 30, 2022), demonstrators stormed the Green Zone and then the House of Representatives for the second time within days. Martyr al-Sadr's office in Baghdad Ibrahim Al Jabri, for an open sit-in inside Parliament; Refusal to nominate  Muhammed Shiaa Al-Sudani for the position of prime minister.

Then, the leader of the Sadrist movement, Muqtada al-Sadr, called for a radical change to the political system and the constitution, and then called, days later, for early elections after the parliament was dissolved, calling for the sit-in to continue until the demands were achieved.   LINK

Faleh Al-Fayyad: Re-Election Is Not Within The Authority Of The Current Government

Iraq   14:48 - 08-04-2022   Today, Thursday, the head of the Ataa movement, Faleh al-Fayyad, confirmed that the rerun of the parliamentary elections is no longer an issue for the Sadrist movement, pointing out that the rerun of the elections is not within the authority of the caretaker government.

Al-Fayyad said, in a televised interview, that "the current government is a caretaker government, and the re-election is not a prerogative of the caretaker government," noting that "the demands to dissolve parliament are a big issue that cannot be accepted when it is raised by one party."

He added, "The re-run of the parliamentary elections is no longer an issue for the Sadrist movement, and its re-run has become a concern for other components and alliances as well."

Al-Fayyad added, "The coordination framework has not yet taken its official position on the issue of holding early parliamentary elections," noting that "the presence of masses under the dome of Parliament is not a normal thing, and we are dealing with it as a temporary situation that can be bypassed."

And he indicated, "The proposals of the leader of the Sadrist movement to resolve the crisis can be discussed to reach common positions on it, and that dissolving parliament and holding early elections will be a solution in the event that all blocs and other political parties agree."

He stressed, "The current government is a caretaker government, and the re-election is not within the powers of the caretaker government."

Al-Fayyadh pointed out that "the demands for dissolving Parliament are a big issue that cannot be accepted when it is raised by one party, and that the system of government in Iraq, according to the constitution, is consensual, and one position cannot be accepted for a specific party."  https://kirkuktv.net/AR/Details/8010

In Front Of Al-Sadr's Call For New Elections: Where Is The Crisis In Iraq Heading?..Expert Opinions

Posted On2022-08-05 By Sotaliraq   Baghdad - (AFP) - The influential Shiite leader Muqtada al-Sadr continues to put pressure on his political opponents, reaching the point of calling for early elections, to further complicate the already tense political scene in Iraq.

Does this mean that the country is really heading towards new elections? Or is a way out of the crisis to be negotiated between the conflicting parties, as usual, is still possible?

Why is Muqtada al-Sadr demanding new elections? –

The last elections took place in October 2021, and were early elections organized with the aim of quelling the popular anti-political protests that rocked Iraq in the fall of 2019.

The Sadrist movement won 73 seats, becoming the largest bloc represented in the parliament, which includes 329 deputies. Al-Sadr, along with his Sunni and Kurdish allies, wanted to name the prime minister and form a “national majority” government.

However, this was rejected by his opponents within the coordination framework that includes pro-Iranian factions. The requirement of the coordination framework was to preserve the traditional consensual solution between all parties of the “Shiite House” in the formation of the government.

To put pressure on his opponents, Sadr, accustomed to taking sudden steps, pushed his deputies to resign from parliament last June.

Currently, thousands of his supporters have camped since Saturday in Parliament to protest the name of the Coordination Framework candidate for prime minister. Thus, he proved that he is still able to move the street card to push for the realization of his political demands.

And assistant professor at the University of Copenhagen, Fener al-Haddad, who specializes in Iraq, explains that al-Sadr "expects to be a major partner in any new government, otherwise he will continue to prevent the formation of a government."

Likewise, “Parliament will not be allowed to meet without its deputies,” according to Al-Haddad.

The Iraqi constitution allows the parliament to dissolve itself. In Article 64 of it, it states that the parliament’s dissolution takes place “by an absolute majority of the number of its members, at the request of one-third of its members.”

As for the other option, it is at the request of “the Prime Minister and with the approval of the President of the Republic.” Al-Haddad explains that “it is not clear whether the second option is even possible, because the current government is a caretaker government.”

By calling for early elections, al-Sadr believes that he will "achieve a great balance, that is, more seats than before," as Ihsan al-Shammari, a professor of political science at Baghdad University, explains to AFP.

Differences within the coordination framework? –

Since the beginning of the crisis, the parties to the coordination framework, which includes in particular the Al-Fateh bloc, which represents the Popular Mobilization Forces, an alliance of pro-Iranian factions that have become affiliated with the official forces, have been divided over the strategy they should follow towards al-Sadr.

The most hardline wing is represented by former Prime Minister and historical opponent of Sadr Nouri al-Maliki, and the leader of Asa'ib Ahl al-Haq, one of the Popular Mobilization factions, Qais Khazali. And push them towards confrontation.

As for the other camp, it is pushing for an “alternative approach: slowing down the process of forming a government and trying to achieve rapprochement within the Shiite house by offering incentives to Sadr,” as stated in an analysis published by The Washington Institute by Hamdi Malik and Michael Knights.

For his part, Ihsan Al-Shammari believes that Khazali and Al-Maliki will be "a brake on the framework's move towards early elections."

He adds that the coordinating framework may oppose holding new elections, “but this resistance is for the purpose of gaining guarantees… such as a change at the level of the electoral law, at the level of the Federal Court, at the level of the Independent High Electoral Commission, or even at the level of the form of government.”

For his part, analyst Fanar Al-Haddad reminds that "Iraqi politics often reaches a point of no return before the concerned parties decide to resolve their differences behind closed doors."

Al-Haddad does not rule out an agreement between the two camps, considering that the assignment of a “consensual prime minister remains the most feasible scenario.

Another important obstacle may stand in the way of dissolving parliament, which is that “half of the parliament’s representatives are new members of parliament who are entering the political arena for the first time and want to exercise the political experience and enjoy the benefits of power and obtain privileges such as taking a social status,” explains political analyst Ali Al-Baydar.

More escalation? –

Ali Al-Baydar believes that the ball is now in the court of Al-Sadr's opponents.

He adds that if they resort to the early elections step, this will be evidence of their desire for dialogue, discussion and negotiation.

The analyst considers that the parliament sit-in was only “a test, or a wake-up call for the political system unless it adheres to what al-Sadr wants and seeks.”

In a country that is still experiencing the effects of the traumas of decades of conflicts and a bloody sectarian war, there are strong fears of an open internal Shiite war.

Meanwhile, everyone is calling for restraint to prevent bloodshed, even though all the leading political parties are armed.

However, the room for maneuver of al-Sadr's opponents is limited: Iran, their powerful ally, opposes escalation, experts say.

Ihsan Al-Shammari believes that Tehran "prevents the coordination framework, specifically the armed factions, from going towards raising the ceiling of confrontation towards confrontation."

Iran considers that it is still possible to find “political solutions,” according to Al-Shammari, “but if fighting breaks out, it is difficult to control the weapons owned by both sides.”   LINK

Plasschaert Arrives In Najaf To Meet Al-Sadr

Policy   2022-08-05 | 02:31   4,898 views   Alsumaria News - Najaf An informed source said today, Friday, the arrival of the United Nations representative in Iraq, Jenin Plasschaert, to Najaf Governorate.

The source told Alsumaria News, "Blaschart has arrivedNajafYou will soon visit the leader of the Sadrist movement, Muqtadathe chest He added, "The reason for the visit comes to discuss the political situation and the current crisis in the country.   "Iraq".   LINK

Blackshart Reaches Al-Hanana To Meet The Leader Of The Sadrist Movement

Iraq   11:17 - 2022-08-05  Today, Friday, the head of the United Nations mission in Iraq, Jeanine Plasschaert, arrived at the office of the leader of the Sadrist movement, Muqtada al-Sadr, in Najaf.

And the official agency stated, "Blaschart arrived at the office of Mr. Al-Sadr in Al-Hanana in Najaf."

The Governor of Najaf, Majid Al-Waeli, had received Plasschaert at Najaf International Airport.

https://kirkuktv.net/AR/Details/8029

Al-Amiri Discusses With Blackshart The Latest Developments In The Political Situation And The File Of The Turkish Bombing

Iraq   21:53 - 08-04-2022   The head of the Al-Fateh Alliance Hadi Al-Amiri received today, Thursday, the UN envoy, Jeanine Plasschaert.

The media office of the head of the Al-Fateh Alliance stated that the two parties discussed the latest developments in the political situation and ways to address the blockage and the need to continue dialogues and understandings to reach realistic and acceptable results that depend on constitutional frameworks.

The statement added, "The file of the Turkish bombing and the abuses that occur by the Turks on the Iraqi borders were also discussed."

According to the statement, Plasschaert stressed "the necessity of stabilizing the political situation in Iraq and reaching common solutions that satisfy all parties." https://kirkuktv.net/AR/Details/8017

Blackshart: Our Meeting With The Leader Of The Sadrist Movement Was Good

Iraq   12:10 - 2022-08-05   The head of the United Nations mission in Iraq, Jeanine Plaschaert, confirmed today, Friday, that her meeting with the leader of the Sadrist movement, Muqtada al-Sadr, was good.

Plasschaert said in a press conference after her meeting with Mr. Al-Sadr in Al-Hanana, that she "discussed with the leader of the Sadrist movement the importance of finding a solution to the political crisis."

And Blackshart arrived, earlier today, Friday, to the office of the leader of the Sadrist movement, Muqtada al-Sadr, in Najaf.   https://kirkuktv.net/AR/Details/8031