Sadr more likely to be political opposition than form government with Maliki: Leader

ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – A senior Sadrist leader has said that Shia cleric and winner of Iraq's May 12 election would prefer his coalition be part of the nation's political opposition than form a government with long-time rival, former Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki.

"Going to the opposition, despite winning the election, is much better than participating in a government from abroad," said the leader on Wednesday, speaking to The New Arab on condition of anonymity.

The remark is an apparent reference to an alliance of political parties closely allied to Iran, including Maliki's State of Law coalition and al-Fatih, led by Hashd al-Shaabi militia leader Hadi al-Amiri.

Muqtada al-Sadr’s Sairoon coalition swept the election by winning 54 parliamentary seats and is said to be in talks aimed at forming the next Iraqi government with Haider al-Abadi’s al-Nasr coalition, al-Hikma alliance led by cleric Ammar al-Hakim, Iyad Allawi’s al-Wataniya, and leading parties from the Kurdistan Region.

The leader said he refused to even speak about joining into an alliance with Maliki's State of Law, saying it was clearly understood among those close to Sadr that this was a "red line," that would not be crossed.

While Maliki was prime minister, the two fought a years-long political rivalry.

On Tuesday, Raid Jahid Fahmi, head of the Communist faction in Sairoon said that his coalition was close to reaching an agreement with other parties on the formation of the next Iraqi government.

“There is a deal with the al-Hikma, al-Nasr, and most of the members of the al-Wataniya coalitions on the principles and the general direction of the next government," he said.

In late May, Sadr said that he had completed the "final touches" of preparations to form an inclusive government.