The leader of Sairoun, Muqtada Sadr, head of al-Wataniya Coalition Ayad Allawi and al-Hikma chief Ammar al-Hakim surprised all parties Friday by striking a deal on a coalition in the aftermath of the May 12 parliamentary elections.
The deal came a day after Iraq’s parliament voted for a nationwide manual election recount and amid strong disputes concerning the constitutionality of the legislative session pending a decision from the Federal Supreme Court.
The text of Friday’s agreement calls on “protecting the unity of Iraq, the respect of the Constitution and the consolidation of democracy and public freedoms.”
Sadr's enhanced bloc is calling for economic reform and decentralization. The statement also opposes "politicizing administrative and military institutions.”
It calls for an independent judiciary and “balanced” foreign relations based on the principles of non-interference in other countries’ affairs.
National Coalition MP Kazem al-Shammari told Asharq Al-Awsat on Friday that Friday’s agreement would be a prelude to other forces joining the alliance..
He said there were serious talks with the Kurdistan Democratic Party led by Masoud Barzani, the Fatah Alliance of Hadi Al-Amiri and the Decision Alliance led by Osama al-Nujaif to join the coalition.
“We believe that agreements with these blocs could help create the biggest bloc that would form the next government while the remaining alliances would become the opposition,” Shammari said.
