Influential Shiite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr reiterated his support for Iraqi President Barham Salih and caretaker Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi, saying they must remain in their posts to oversee the upcoming early parliamentary elections.
His announcement upended political alliances in the country that had largely remained unchanged over the past ten months.
Many have questioned his call and suspect that it is a precursor to future political moves by the mercurial cleric.
Informed sources told Asharq Al-Awsat that “everyone knows that Kadhimi is close to Sadr … but everyone also knows that Sadr has often taken a hard stance against the president over his refusal to sign the law that criminalizes normalization of ties with Israel.”
“Sadr slammed Salih at the time, accusing him of seeking normal ties with Israel. Therefore, his sudden 180 can only be seen as part of a future plan in store,” they added.
Moreover, Sadr not only called for keeping Salih and Kadhimi in their posts, he also urged his former allies the Sunni Sovereignty Coalition and Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) to resign from parliament so that it loses its legitimacy.
Head of the KDP, Masoud Barzani, rejected the call through statements by various party members.
The Sunni coalition has yet to comment on it.
A Sunni politician who is close to the coalition said the alliance has never been part of the division between the Shiite factions and the Kurds.
Speaking on condition of anonymity to Asharq Al-Awsat, he noted how the Sunnis were keen on strengthening “partnership” across the nation and with all political parties.
The Kurds, meanwhile, do not seem opposed to Kadhimi remaining in power.
Sadr’s rivals in the Shiite pro-Iran Coordination Framework appear divided over Salih and Kadhimi.
Head of the Fateh alliance, Hadi al-Ameri, leader of the Hikma movement, Ammar al-Hakim, and former PM Haidar al-Abadi back Salih and Kadhimi.
Other members of the grouping, such as leader of the State of Law alliance former PM Nouri al-Maliki, and the Asa’ib Ahl al-Haq, led by Kais al-Khazali, oppose Kadhimi, but not Salih.
