Iraqi political sources have revealed more details of the “reform document” that political powers have vowed to implement in exchange for influential cleric Moqtada al-Sadr to participate in next month’s elections.
Sadr announced last week that he would be taking part in the elections, reversing a decision to sit them out.
Asharq Al-Awsat received a copy of the document that Sadr agreed to. His associates clarified that the copy Sadr had signed is named the “national document” and it is an updated version of a document that was reported by the media.
The most significant condition in the 16-point document is the stipulation to amend the constitution after the elections are held.
The updated copy underscores the “political parties and their parliamentary blocs’ commitment” to implement its points within the set deadlines.
The sources told Asharq Al-Awsat that Sadr had listed ten articles, which were not included in the document, with the aim of amending the constitution.
The first article of the document includes the commitment of all blocs in the upcoming parliament to amend the constitution according to its set mechanism and through a parliamentary committee that would be formed to that end. The amendment must take place within six months of the parliament holding its first meeting.
Two sources from Sadr’s Sairoon coalition and another from the Fatah alliance said the cleric had demanded constitutional amendments related to the mechanism to fight the possession of arms outside state authority. He also tackled consolidating the independence of military institutions and addressed amendments related to armed factions that are backed financially and politically by foreign sides.
The sources also revealed amendments related to public freedoms, especially those related to peaceful protests and rallies.
A source in the Fatah alliance, however, said discussions over a constitutional amendment will spark widespread debate that would include all Iraqi parties.
It will be no easy task, he added.
Days after Sadr announced his participation in the elections, a number of government and partisan officials sent out signals over the need to amend the constitution.
President Barham Salih on Monday said: “The current constitution cannot govern the current Iraq. Amending it is unavoidable.”
