Sadr meets with pro-Iran Amiri to discuss formation of new government

ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – Influential Iraqi cleric and winner of the parliamentary elections, Muqtada al-Sadr, on Sunday met with the leader of a pro-Iran bloc, Hadi al-Amiri, to discuss the formation of a new government.

According to a statement from Sadr’s office, the two political rivals discussed the results of the May 12 elections as part of “an inclusive” dialogue about government formation.

“The process of government formation must be a national decision and importantly, must include the participation of all the winning blocs,” the statement read.

Amiri’s al-Fatih coalition finished runners-up to Sadr’s Sairoon bloc in the parliamentary polls, followed by current Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi’s Nasr (Victory) coalition.

Since no electoral list won an outright majority, negotiations to form a coalition government are expected to take months, Reuters reported.

Amiri is one of the more established political figures in Iraq who has close ties with Tehran and was the former head of the Iranian-backed Shia-dominated Hashd al-Shaabi militias.

Sadr is out of contention to become the next Iraqi prime minister as he did not run in the election, but his coalition’s victory means he is in a strong position to decide who does.

Three candidates are competing for the post of prime minister: Abadi, his predecessor Nouri al-Maliki, and Amiri, whose Fatih Alliance won 47 seats, the second largest winner after Sadr who won 54.

Whoever is to claim the prime ministership has the daunting task of rebuilding the war-ravaged country and tackling rampant corruption of its oil sector.

Before meeting with Amiri, Sadr had sat with Abadi earlier in the day where the two discussed the formation of a new Iraqi government.

There were no significant differences between the campaign platforms Abadi and Sadr ran on, but neither will be able to form a government on their own. The establishment of a new cabinet will require alliances with other winning parties.

In a press conference following the meeting, Abadi stated that he would “move quickly” to advance the political process in a session of parliament with potentially like-minded candidates who won their seats.

According to the Iraqi Constitution, a new government must be formed within 90 days after official election results are announced.

Intense negotiations are expected to follow in the next several weeks as a result of the complex relationships between Shias, Sunni, and the Kurds, and the fragile political situation.