Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi, who started the second year of his first tenure that was extended to another six months, denied that he has been pressured by cleric Moqtada al-Sadr to not run in the upcoming parliamentary elections.
While a second term of four years depends on the results of the upcoming elections, scheduled for June 10, Kadhimi confirmed during a television interview with a number of Iraqi satellite channels that he will not run in the polls.
More than 3,000 candidates will participate in the early elections, compared to around 7,000 contenders in 2018. Political observers attributed the drop to the new electoral law, which does not allow multiple nominees to compete in one district.
While the number of candidates and parties has decreased, observers note that the elections will witness a high turnout despite boycott calls by the new political movement, known as the October Forces, in wake of the recent assassination of civilian activist Ihab al-Wazni in Karbala.
During the interview, the premier said he had taken his decision against running in the polls since the first day when the government was formed. He also denied reports that the leader of the Sadrist movement, Moqtada al-Sadr, has exerted pressure on him in this regard.
Kadhimi stressed that his country was “trying today to restore its international reputation. We reject all forms of political influence by any side.”
On the assassination of al-Wazni, he said: “If we want to build a real Iraq, weapons must be solely under the state’s authority.”
He vowed that the country would confront all attempts that threaten it.
Kadhimi renewed his accusations against parties trying to “exploit the weapons that fought ISIS under various pretexts,” revealing that some “gangs have infiltrated our security apparatus, especially the Ministry of Interior.”
On relations with the Kurdistan region, the PM said: “Unprecedented security coordination between Baghdad and Erbil is underway. It will help end terrorist attacks in the disputed areas and the regions witnessing security vacuum.”
He also expressed confidence that the regional government would cooperate with Baghdad’s proposals in this regard.
