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Iraqis Fear Unrest if Parliament Fails to Elect President on Saturday

A general view of the Iraqi parliament during a meeting in the capital Baghdad. (AFP)
A general view of the Iraqi parliament during a meeting in the capital Baghdad. (AFP)
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Iraqis Fear Unrest if Parliament Fails to Elect President on Saturday

A general view of the Iraqi parliament during a meeting in the capital Baghdad. (AFP)
A general view of the Iraqi parliament during a meeting in the capital Baghdad. (AFP)

Tensions have spiked in Iraq on the eve of a parliamentary session dedicated to elect a new president.

Concerns have mounted that the failure to elect a president for a second time could lead to violence in a country that is sharply divided between rival camps, namely the Shiite Sadrist movement, headed by cleric Moqtada al-Sadr, and the Shiite pro-Iran Coordination Framework.

In a bid to ease the tensions, the Sadrist movement, Kurdish Democratic Party and Sunni Sovereignty alliance announced the formation of the "Nation's Salvation" alliance.

Former Prime Minister Haidar al-Abadi, a member of the Framework, congratulated Sadr, KDP chief Masoud Barzani and parliament Speaker Mohammed al-Halbousi on the formation of the alliance.

Other members of the Framework adopted a different tone. The media was flooded with warnings and threats by the remaining members of the Framework and its armed factions against the alliance should it go ahead with the election on Saturday and the nomination of its candidate, the Kurdistan Region’s Interior Minister Reber Ahmed.

No sooner was the Salvation alliance announced, that the Framework dismissed its ability in securing the needed quorum of two-thirds of lawmakers to hold the elections.

Head of the Asa'ib Ahl al-Haq Qais Khazali insisted that the Framework had the "blocking third" power in parliament that could obstruct its decisions.

Abou Ali al-Askari, a figure close to the Kataeb Hizballah, launched a scathing attack against Halbousi, whom he described as a "clown". He warned him against approving the "separatist" candidate, a reference to Ahmed.

In a tweet on Thursday, he called on the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) and "resistance" factions in western Iraq to "redeploy accordingly to confront the threats."

The members of the Framework believe the Salvation alliance to be a new "gimmick" in Iraqi politics aimed at marginalizing Shiites, who make up the majority of the population, and depriving them of naming the prime minister, the country's top executive post.

Former Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki criticized the Salvation alliance. He said the norm in Iraq was for the president to be Kurdish, parliament speaker to be Sunni and the premier Shiite. The prime minister would be named by the largest parliamentary bloc.

This time around, however, "our partners formed alliances with the Kurds and Sunnis," he noted.

Sadr and his supporters believe that such an alliance will help rid the country of sectarian squabbling over power and state positions.

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Arab World

Aoun Leading Efforts to Avert Shiite Boycott of New Lebanese Govt

A handout photo made available by the Lebanese Presidency Press Office shows Lebanese President Joseph Aoun (C) attending a meeting with Lebanese parliament Speaker Nabih Berri (L) and Prime Minister-designate Nawaf Salam at the Presidential Palace in Baabda, Lebanon, 14 January 2025. (Lebanese Presidency Press Office)
A handout photo made available by the Lebanese Presidency Press Office shows Lebanese President Joseph Aoun (C) attending a meeting with Lebanese parliament Speaker Nabih Berri (L) and Prime Minister-designate Nawaf Salam at the Presidential Palace in Baabda, Lebanon, 14 January 2025. (Lebanese Presidency Press Office)
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Aoun Leading Efforts to Avert Shiite Boycott of New Lebanese Govt

A handout photo made available by the Lebanese Presidency Press Office shows Lebanese President Joseph Aoun (C) attending a meeting with Lebanese parliament Speaker Nabih Berri (L) and Prime Minister-designate Nawaf Salam at the Presidential Palace in Baabda, Lebanon, 14 January 2025. (Lebanese Presidency Press Office)
A handout photo made available by the Lebanese Presidency Press Office shows Lebanese President Joseph Aoun (C) attending a meeting with Lebanese parliament Speaker Nabih Berri (L) and Prime Minister-designate Nawaf Salam at the Presidential Palace in Baabda, Lebanon, 14 January 2025. (Lebanese Presidency Press Office)

Lebanon’s Prime Minister-designate Nawaf Salam arrived in Beirut on Tuesday to kick off parliamentary consultations to form a new government.

He assured that it will “not exclude anyone”, but seek “unity and partnership.”

Asharq Al-Awsat learned that President Joseph Aoun is leading efforts to avert a Shiite boycott of the new government after the “Shiite duo” of the Hezbollah and Amal movement, which is led by parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, refrained from naming Salam for the position of PM during Monday’s consultations.

Their abstention has raised fears that the new government will not be constitutional without the representation of the largest Shiite parties in the country.

Reports have said that the duo may boycott the parliamentary consultations to form a government that Salam will hold on Wednesday.

Sources said the duo may skip the first day of talks, which will conclude on Thursday, to demonstrate its “annoyance” with the developments.

Berri, however, told Asharq Al-Awsat that the “situation is not that negative”. He did not elaborate on the duo’s next steps.

Moreover, Asharq Al-Awsat learned that French President Macron had even intervened to avoid a dispute over the government, holding telephone talks with Aoun and Berri.

Salam’s appointment as prime minister came as a major shock given the large number of votes he won from the parliamentary blocs, compared to his predecessor Najib Mikati and against the will of the Shiite duo. In past years, Hezbollah has repeatedly blocked Salam from becoming prime minister.

Aoun stressed the need to “avoid placing obstacles in the government formation process.”

Aoun held a meeting with Salam at the presidential palace on Tuesday before later being joined by Berri, who left the palace without making a statement.

After the talks, Salam spoke before reporters to express his gratitude to parliament and the people for entrusting him with the “difficult task of serving Lebanon” and “achieving the people’s dreams.”

“It is time to open a new chapter that is rooted in justice, security, progress and opportunity, so that Lebanon can be a nation of free people who are equal under their rights,” he added.

On the possible boycott of the Shiite duo, he said he was against exclusion and on the contrary supported unity. “This is my sincere call, and my hands are extended to everyone,” he added.

The formation of a government in Lebanon often takes months due to political wrangling.

Aoun said on Tuesday that Lebanon has a “very major opportunity that we should all seize.”

He received a delegation from the Supreme Islamic Shiite Council.

“Obstacles must not be placed in the formation process,” he urged. “We must send positive signals to the international community that Lebanon can govern itself, carry out reconstruction transparently and build the state that we are all calling for.”

“If one segment of Lebanon is broken, then the whole country will break,” he stressed, saying Monday’s consultations to appoint Salam were a democratic process and that the public interest remains the top priority.

Aoun, who was elected last week, added that he has declined visits from well-wishers over his election “out of respect for the martyrs” who were killed during Israel’s war on Lebanon, which ended with a ceasefire in November.