Iraq’s Abadi accuses Iran of bribing party members in attempts to split Nasr coalition

ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – The former Prime Minister of Iraq, Haider al-Abadi, on Saturday accused Tehran of trying to break up his Nasr (Victory) Coalition by bribing a number of its members to leave the bloc and join alliances closer to Iran.

Abadi formed the Nasr Coalition in 2017 in an aim to secure a number of parliamentary seats in the May 2018 federal elections and secure his second term of the premiership, independently from the Dawa party to which he previously belonged.

His coalition came in third, winning 42 seats and trailing behind the Sairoon Coalition, with 54 seats, and Fatih (Conquest), an alliance led by Iran-backed Hashd al-Shaabi senior militia leader Hadi al-Amiri, which secured 48 seats.

“A group of people from the Iranian side have paid money to members of my coalition in attempts to create a rift,” Abadi said during an interview with Iraqi Dijlah TV channel on Saturday evening.

The former Prime Minister referred to those he suspects of foul play as maintaining a strong influence in Baghdad, hinting to external players such as Iranian Ambassador, Iraj Masjedi, and Qassim Soleimani, who leads the Quds Force of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and often meets with militia leaders in Iraq to consult on military operations.

He clarified he felt confident in accusing certain interest groups from Iran. “Some on the Iranian side, not all of them.”

“There are those who have paid money...to parties within the Nasr Coalition in order side with Iran [on political matters].”

Abadi’s Nasr Coalition witnessed divisions within its ranks from the very beginning, especially after Amiri deserted the bloc to create his own Fatih alliance ahead of the elections.

In late August 2018, Abadi decided to oust Falih Fayyadh, Iraq’s National Security Adviser and the Chairman of the Hashd al-Shaabi, also known as Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF), a decision the Iraqi Administrative Court later revoked.

“This is unprofessional,” Abadi said, referring to the bribing rumors.

“All the candidates who were once part of the Nasr Coalition and left are welcome to return at any time,” he affirmed.

The former Iraqi leader added his coalition had already “survived two difficult phases:” internal political disagreements prior to the May election and the “manipulation” of votes at the polls.

He claimed the third phase has been more challenging due to regular attempts to purchase his party’s demise and dismantle his coalition.

Editing by Nadia Riva