Iraq’s Sadrists Refile Call for Judiciary to Suspend Parliament

Supporters of Iraqi populist leader Moqtada al-Sadr gather for Friday prayers outside the parliament near the Green Zone, in Baghdad, Iraq August 26, 2022. (Reuters)
Supporters of Iraqi populist leader Moqtada al-Sadr gather for Friday prayers outside the parliament near the Green Zone, in Baghdad, Iraq August 26, 2022. (Reuters)
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Iraq’s Sadrists Refile Call for Judiciary to Suspend Parliament

Supporters of Iraqi populist leader Moqtada al-Sadr gather for Friday prayers outside the parliament near the Green Zone, in Baghdad, Iraq August 26, 2022. (Reuters)
Supporters of Iraqi populist leader Moqtada al-Sadr gather for Friday prayers outside the parliament near the Green Zone, in Baghdad, Iraq August 26, 2022. (Reuters)

Populist Shiite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr's camp on Friday refiled a petition for Iraq's judiciary to suspend parliament to clear the way for fresh elections amid a months-long political deadlock.

A source within the judiciary said it would give its response on Tuesday to the second such motion within a month submitted by the Sadrists.

At weekly Friday prayers near parliament attended by thousands of Sadr supporters, an aide to the cleric urged the justice system to pay heed to his calls.

"I will give you some advice," Mohaned al-Mussawi, a Sadr loyalist, said in a sermon on Friday. "We expect the judiciary to confirm the (people's) rights and give hope to the people".

"We will not abandon our rights," he added.

The judiciary already said last Sunday that it lacks the authority to dissolve parliament as demanded by Sadr, who is engaged in a standoff with Shiite political rivals.

Followers of Sadr, in defiance of the rival pro-Iran Coordination Framework, have for weeks been staging a sit-in outside Iraq's parliament, after initially storming the legislature's interior.

On Tuesday, the Sadrists also pitched tents outside the gates of the judicial body's headquarters in Baghdad for several hours.

The judiciary, in its ruling on Sunday, said "the Supreme Judicial Council has no jurisdiction to dissolve parliament", citing "the principle of a separation of powers".

Under the constitution, parliament can only be dissolved by an absolute majority vote in the house, following a request by one-third of deputies or by the prime minister with the approval of the president.

Nearly 10 months on from the last elections, Iraq still has no government, new prime minister or new president, due to disagreement between factions over forming a coalition.



France Says Unaware of Algerian Trade Curbs as Tensions Build

French President Emmanuel Macron and Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune. (AFP file)
French President Emmanuel Macron and Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune. (AFP file)
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France Says Unaware of Algerian Trade Curbs as Tensions Build

French President Emmanuel Macron and Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune. (AFP file)
French President Emmanuel Macron and Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune. (AFP file)

France said on Thursday that it was not aware of any official measures imposed by Algeria on its imports and exports, but would keep a close eye on the situation as diplomatic sources suggested Algiers may be preparing trade restrictions.
Ties between Paris and Algiers have worsened in recent weeks since France recognized Morocco's sovereignty over the disputed territory of Western Sahara, which Morocco wants the international community to recognize as Moroccan, Reuters said.
The decision angered Algiers, which backs the Polisario Front that is seeking an independent state.
"We have not been made aware of such measures, but we are closely watching the situation for our companies in Algeria," France's foreign ministry spokesman Christophe Lemoine told reporters at a weekly news conference.
The office of Algerian Prime Minister Nadir Larbaoui issued a statement denying the contents of a post on X by France's former ambassador Xavier Driencourt which shows a screenshot of a document that appears to outline restrictions on imports and exports. Reuters was not able to authenticate the document and Driencourt did not respond to a request for comment.
"Following the false allegations promoted by the former French ambassador to Algeria ... regarding the alleged restrictive measures on foreign trade, the press office of the Prime Minister would like to categorically deny this information which is completely unfounded," it said in a statement.
According to three diplomats, there has been a concerted effort in recent months by Algeria to toughen the business environment for French firms, including wheat exporters.
The diplomats said there had been some signals in recent days that Algiers may look to specifically target French imports and exports, although there had been no official confirmation at this stage.
Algerian officials did not respond to Reuters' requests for comments.
BANKING SPAT
In 2022, Algeria's banking association ordered the end of payments to and from Spain after an official trade ministry directive, although it exempted key gas exports.
That rift, which has since calmed, was also over Madrid's stance on Western Sahara.
French daily newspaper Le Figaro newspaper reported on Thursday that the banking association in the North African country had met banks on Nov 4. and informed them of a potential measure.
Two diplomats told Reuters they were aware of that meeting, but cautioned that the association could not take such a decision unilaterally.
Several French companies operating in Algeria contacted by Reuters said they had not received any new directives and French officials said at this stage no companies had approached them with any specific difficulties.
Grain traders have reported that Algeria overlooked France in wheat tenders last month due to the diplomatic tensions, though Algerian state grains agency OAIC said it treated all suppliers fairly and applied technical requirements to cover its import needs.
The reported trade obstacles echo a diplomatic dispute three years ago that led to France being sidelined from its former colony's wheat tenders for months. Trade between the two countries grew more than 5% in 2023 with hydrocarbon exports from Algeria to France increasing about 15%, although imports to Algeria from France dropped 0.5%, according to the French finance ministry.