Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani, whose government won Parliament’s confidence on Thursday, pledged to hold early parliamentary elections within a year, in what appeared to be an attempt to appease the leader of the Sadrist movement, Muqtada Al-Sadr.
Al-Sudani pledged to “amend the Parliamentary Elections Law within three months and hold early elections within a year.”
The policy statement said the government was committed to build effective anti-corruption tools within 90 days.
Al-Sudani also announced reviewing all the decisions of the caretaker government, especially those pertaining to the country’s economy and security, as well as the hasty appointments and the disbursement of petrodollar dues to the oil and gas-producing governorates.
The new Iraqi prime minister said the government would unify customs procedures at all land, sea and air border crossings and close unofficial ports. It will also earmark “a sufficient budget to compensate those affected by terrorist and military operations in accordance with the law in force.”
Some observers said that Al-Sudani’s pledge to hold early elections within a year after amending the electoral law, was an ambitious and far-fetched plan, amid the persisting political differences.
On the other hand, the new prime minister appeared to be trying to please the Sadrist movement and its leader. Al-Sadr, who had rejected to participate in the government before his withdrawal from Parliament, did not express strong opposition to the formation of Al-Sudani’s government.
In a series of tweets, Al-Sadr steered clear of his harsh criticism against the political parties.
In fact, the distribution of the ministerial seats among the three main Iraqi components (Shiites, Sunnis and Kurds), did not give the prime minister sufficient freedom to choose his ministers.
Moreover, sectarian divisions led to the insistence by some parties on taking over certain key ministries, including the ministries of defense and interior, as well as other important portfolios, such as oil, transportation and planning.
