Saturday Evening Iraq Parliament News Highlights 7-30-22

Saturday Evening Iraq Parliament News Highlights 7-30-22

Against The Background Of The Escalation Of Protests, Al-Kazemi Holds A Meeting With Security Leaders To Discuss Developments

Shafaq News/ An informed source said, on Saturday, that the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kazemi, held a meeting with security leaders against the background of the Sadrist movement's demonstration.

The source told Shafaq News Agency, that Al-Kazemi held an emergency meeting with the leaders of the security forces of all kinds to discuss the demonstration organized by the Sadrist movement's supporters and their briefing in the Green Zone and their progress towards storming it.

This morning, Saturday morning, a mass demonstration of supporters of the Sadrist movement began to express their rejection of the nomination of Muhammad Shia Al-Sudani to head the next government.    LINK

"After A Jar Of Ear"... Al-Sadr's Supporters Storm Al-Khadra Once Again

Shafaq News / Hundreds of supporters of the Sadrist movement, Muqtada al-Sadr, stormed the Green Zone on Saturday, after dropping the concrete blocks and security barriers set up by the Iraqi security forces to prevent their storming.

Al-Sadr's supporters entered the Green Zone from the side of the Ministry of Planning gate, adjacent to the Jumhuriya Bridge, amid chants and slogans condemning the ruling political parties.

Before that, a number of demonstrators placed wires on the pillars to bring them down and secure the entry of the crowds into the Green Zone, despite the fact that security forces continued to spray the demonstrators with water in an attempt to keep them away from the pillars.

The demonstrators demanded, from the riot police behind the concrete blocks, to move away from them, to bring them down. From Friday evening until Saturday, hundreds of supporters of the Sadrist movement, Muqtada al-Sadr, flocked to Tahrir Square in the center of the capital, Baghdad, and then to the Green Zone. Supporters of the Sadrist movement seek to prevent the parliament session to elect a president for the republic, whose date has not been officially set yet.

The security forces had quickly placed concrete blocks at the beginning of bridges and roads leading to the Green Zone, to prevent demonstrators from crossing it.

Last Wednesday, hundreds of al-Sadr's supporters stormed the Iraqi parliament building in the Green Zone, in protest against the coordination framework's move towards forming a government and pushing a candidate from the Dawa Party led by Nuri al-Maliki.

Al-Sadr had hinted on more than one occasion to stand against the formation of any government in accordance with the principle of quotas adopted since 2003.

Al-Sadr withdrew from the political process, after months of tug-of-war with the coordination framework to form a government according to the principle of majority, which he confronted with an alliance that included the Kurdistan Democratic Party, and the "Sovereignty" coalition that brought together Muhammad al-Halbousi and Khamis al-Khanjar.   LINK

Al-Kazemi Directs To Protect Protesters And Official Institutions: Political Escalation Increases Tension

Shafaq News/ On Saturday, the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kazemi directed the security forces to protect the demonstrators, at the same time calling on the demonstrators to adhere to peace.

In a statement received by Shafaq News Agency, Al-Kazemi stressed that the demonstrators must adhere to peacefulness in their movement, not escalate, and abide by the directives of the security forces whose goal is to protect them and protect official institutions.

He stressed that the continuation of the political escalation increases tension in the street and does not serve the public interests.

Al-Kazemi pointed out that the security forces have a duty to protect official institutions, stressing the need to take all legal measures to maintain order.

This morning, Saturday morning, a mass demonstration of supporters of the Sadrist movement began to express their rejection of the nomination of Muhammad Shia Al-Sudani to head the next government.   LINK

The Framework Renews Its Call For The Kurds To Agree On The President Of Iraq And Initiate Internal Negotiations

Shafaq News/ The coordination framework, which includes Shiite political forces, except for the Sadrist movement, renewed its call on the Kurdish parties to quickly agree on the nomination of a candidate for the post of President of the Republic of Iraq, at a time when he announced that his negotiating committee will start negotiations with other political parties in order to strengthen the government next federation.

A statement issued by the framework stated that "for months, the coordination framework has been working to correct the course of the political process, which I want it to go in unknown directions away from the people's desire and the votes of the voters."

The statement added that "in continuation of his efforts, the coordination framework is keen to complete the understandings between all political forces and renews the call for the Kurdish forces to hold more serious dialogues in order to reach an agreement on a candidate for the presidency."

And he added, "The framework confirms its desire for all national forces to be consistent in their stance towards completing the constitutional dues before the parliament session devoted to electing the president of the republic."

The statement also indicated that "the negotiating team formed by the coordination framework will begin its dialogues with the political and other parties in order to reach internal understandings that contribute to increasing the strength of the next government and make it able to better perform its service tasks."

This comes after hundreds of al-Sadr's supporters stormed, the day before yesterday, the Iraqi parliament building in the Green Zone, in protest against the coordination framework's move to form a government and push a candidate from the Dawa Party led by al-Maliki.

Al-Sadr had hinted on more than one occasion to stand in the way of forming a government in accordance with the principle of quotas adopted since 2003.

Al-Sadr withdrew from the political process, after months of tug-of-war with the coordination framework to form a government according to the majority principle, which he confronted in alliance with the Kurdistan Democratic Party and a Sunni political coalition that brought together Muhammad al-Halbousi and Khamis al-Khanjar.   LINK

Al-Hakim: We Will Not Stand Idly By In Front Of The Sounds Of Sedition And The Entrapment Of Youth Into Chaos

Shafaq News/ The head of the Wisdom Movement, Ammar al-Hakim, confirmed on Friday that he will not stand idly by in front of the voices of sedition and plunge young people into chaos, calling at the same time to amend the election law. During the past weeks, many attempts have been made to sow discord and animosity between the components of the people on the one hand, and within the larger social component on the other hand, and they are malicious endeavors that do not want anything but evil in Iraq and its people.

He added, "We bet on the awareness of the Iraqis and their keenness on cohesion and unity... and we salute the proud and responsible national souls that extinguish the fires of strife and look at the country's higher interests, even if they are damaged and wounded from a position here or injustice there, that is only issued by the brave and Al-Hakim continued,

“From here, I call on all national and benevolent forces to transcend previous sensitivities and intersections and open a serious and responsible dialogue in a spirit worthy of Iraq and its position, and open a new page based on mutual trust and joint national action, both its position and effective participation in making Senior strategic decisions.

He said, "We will not stand idly by in front of the attempts of hatred and the voices of strife and the involvement of our youth in conflicts and chaos. Iraqi unity is a red line and we will not tolerate that at all, and we will not allow the soft fingers of war to affect our people or fuel differences, challenges and sensitive conditions that we are going through to achieve its malicious goals." .

Al-Hakim called, for “there to be a clear and public mechanism before the people in choosing the president of the republic and not to keep this in the backstage and closed meetings to get rid of personalizing matters and aggravating positions. It is produced by Parliament in a specific and near time, as happened in the selection of the Prime Minister by the coordinating framework forces with a high level of responsibility and selflessness from the leaders of the first row and a number of leaders of the second row.

He continued, "We also advise the next government to focus on specific and key points to implement and complete them completely during the life of the government," adding, "The presence of first-class leaders in the decision-making position, consultation, and collective support will relieve the government of many burdens, avoided by preoccupation with satisfying parties and tastes." The contrasting moods make the government more concerned with implementation and the field than with balances and processes of appeasement.

Al-Hakim called for "working seriously to amend the electoral law in a way that rid Iraq of the knot of political blockage... while preserving the rights of the components and their fair representation, and the completion of clear and supportive legal legislation for the path of political leaning in alliances and electoral lists, so that electoral volumes are a solution and not a knot in the work and the political path."   LINK

The Coordination Framework Constitutes A Negotiating Delegation To Form The Government

Shafaq News/ The coordination framework held a meeting today, Thursday, to consult on the political issue of Iraq.

A statement by the framework stated, "This meeting resulted in the formation of a negotiating team to discuss with all political forces regarding the formation of the government and the completion of the constitutional entitlements, and the team will start its dialogue rounds tomorrow, Friday."

This comes after movement and calls within the Sadrist movement published on social media threatening to storm the House of Representatives again if the coordinating framework insists on the nomination of Muhammad Shia al-Sudani for the position of prime minister, or a session of Parliament is held next week.

Yesterday, Wednesday, hundreds of al-Sadr's supporters stormed the Iraqi parliament building in the Green Zone, in protest against the coordination framework's move to form a government and push a candidate from the Dawa Party led by al-Maliki.

Al-Sadr had hinted on more than one occasion to stand in the way of forming a government in accordance with the principle of quotas adopted since 2003.

Al-Sadr withdrew from the political process, after months of tug-of-war with the coordination framework to form a government according to the majority principle, which he confronted in alliance with the Kurdistan Democratic Party and a Sunni political coalition that brought together Muhammad al-Halbousi and Khamis al-Khanjar.    LINK

After A Meeting With Fouad Hussein.. Al-Amiri And Talabani Discuss Accelerating The Formation Of The Government

Shafaq News/ The leader of the Al-Fateh Alliance, Hadi Al-Amiri, and the President of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan, Bafel Talabani, affirmed this evening, Thursday, the continuation of political understandings in order to expedite the formation of the expected government.

Al-Amiri's media office said in a statement received by Shafaq News Agency, that the latter received in his office in Baghdad, the President of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan, Paval Talabani, and the two parties discussed the latest developments in the political situation and the speedy formation of the government.

The two sides stressed the need to continue dialogues and understandings to reach realistic and acceptable results that adopt constitutional frameworks.

This comes after a meeting held by the President of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan, Bafel Jalal Talabani, with Iraqi Foreign Minister Fouad Hussein, at the home of the late President Jalal Talabani in the capital, Baghdad.

According to a statement received by Shafaq News Agency, the two sides discussed the political situation in Iraq and the region, and the completion of legal and constitutional ways to form the new Iraqi government.

He stressed "unifying efforts, understanding and consensus in accordance with the principle of true partnership, in order to form a government of national services that would bring stability and prosperity to the people."

On Wednesday, an informed political source revealed details of talks that took place between the commander of the "Quds Force" in the Iranian Revolutionary Guard, Ismail Qaani, with the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan on the sidelines of his meeting with the coordination framework in Baghdad.

The source told Shafaq News Agency, that the meeting discussed the issue of the candidate for the presidency of the Iraqi Republic, where the dispute between the Union and the Kurdistan Democratic Party.

According to leaks obtained by Shafak News Agency, the settlement candidate who is being talked about is Latif Rashid, a member of the Political Bureau of the National Union, and the late President Jalal Talabani, husband of Shanaz Ibrahim Ahmed.

The dispute revolves between the two main parties in the Kurdistan Region, over the re-nomination of Barham Salih for the post of the presidency.   LINK

This Evening, A New Meeting Of Qaani And The Leaders Of The Framework To Resolve The Fate Of The Parliament Session

Shafaq News/ An informed political source revealed, on Thursday, an upcoming meeting that will be held between the leaders of the coordination framework exclusively and the commander of the Iranian "Quds Force" Ismail Qaani, to discuss political developments.

Qaani, who succeeded Qassem Soleimani with the leadership of the Quds Force, who was assassinated in Iraq in a US air raid, repeated his visits to Baghdad to rearrange the Shiite house again and form a consensual government, but his previous attempts did not achieve his goal.

The source told Shafaq News Agency, "The meeting will be held this evening at the house of one of the leaders of the coordination framework to discuss the repercussions of the political scene, specifically resolving the situation regarding the parliament session for electing the president of the republic and what will follow it."

He added, "The holding of the session on Saturday or not is subject to the recommendations or agreements that will be issued in today's meeting, and it may be postponed to the next Monday."

The source pointed out that "the framework is trying to go towards calm and find a stability equation."

Regarding the departure of the tire's supporters in the demonstrations next Saturday, the source explained, "So far, the matter has not been resolved, and all positions remain subject to the results of this evening's meeting."

Yesterday, Qaani held an extensive meeting with the leaders of the framework in conjunction with the start of the demonstrations by the supporters of al-Sadr who reject the candidate for prime minister, Muhammad Shiaa al-Sudani.

And earlier today, the Presidency of the Iraqi Council of Representatives denied setting a date for the election of the President of the Republic, stressing that what was published about setting it next Saturday is not true.

Some political blocs and deputies had announced in earlier times that next Saturday, the House of Representatives would hold a session to elect the President of the Republic, who in turn would ensure the largest parliamentary bloc to form the government.

Earlier today, a leading source in the coordination framework that includes Shiite forces except for the Sadrist movement told Shafaq News Agency; "There is fear among the leadership of the coordination framework of holding a session to elect the president of the republic and assigning the framework candidate, Muhammad Shiaa al-Sudani, to form the government, for fear of storming the parliament by supporters of the Sadrist movement, as happened yesterday, Wednesday."   LINK