Thousands of supporters of influential Shiite political leader Moqtada Sadr re-entered Iraq’s parliament on Saturday and they plan to occupy it until further notice, after a day of protests in a country plunged into a deep political crisis. Demonstrators waved Iraqi flags and images of Sadr inside the building, while thousands protested outside. In the hemicycle, they walked around making the victory sign and taking selfies.
The political crisis in Iraq is complete pending the appointment of a new president and prime minister, ten months after the legislative elections in October 2021. Moqtada Sadr launched a maximum pressure campaign against his opponents, rejecting the candidate for the post of head of government.
Three days after briefly occupying Parliament on Wednesday, the protesters announced “a sit-in until further notice,” according to a statement from the pro-Sadr current. Some of the protesters were lying on carpeted corridors, leaning against pillars, killing time with their mobile phones, while others were fanning themselves with cardboard boxes or had their shirts off.
the speaker of parliamentMohamed Al Halbusiannounced in a statement “the suspension of all parliamentary sessions until further notice” and called on the protesters to “preserve state property.”
“Corrupt and incompetent government”
The protesters reject the candidacy for Prime Minister of Mohamed Chia Al Sudaniconsidered close to the former head of government Nuuri Al Maliki, historical opponent of Sadr. In Parliament GardensSattar Al Aliawi, 47, said he was demonstrating against “a corrupt and incapable government,” referring to Sadr’s opponents. “We don’t want Mr. Sudani,” he said. “The people totally reject the parties that have ruled for 18 years. We will have a sit-in under the dome of parliament, we will sleep here,” he said.
Sudani, a 52-year-old former minister and provincial governor, is the candidate of the Coordination Framework, an alliance of pro-Iranian Shiite factions that includes Maliki’s party and representatives of the Hachd Al Shaabiformer paramilitaries now integrated into the regular forces.
Although Sadr decided to keep up the pressure on his opponents, he nonetheless left them the task of forming a government because he had all 73 of his deputies resign in June. The Sadrists then represented the largest force in parliament, with 329 members. Following the incursions into Parliament, the Coordination Framework called on “the popular masses (…) to demonstrate peacefully to defend the State and its legitimacy.”
Climbing
At least 100 demonstrators and 25 members of the security forces were injured during the demonstrations on Saturday, according to the Ministry of Health. The police fired tear gas in front of the stones of the protesters. “The ongoing escalation is deeply worrying,” the UN Assistance Mission in Iraq lamented on Twitter, calling for a “de-escalation.”
The entire Iraqi political spectrum called for dialogue and de-escalation. In a televised address, Prime MinisterMustafa Al Kazimiin office, asked the political blocs “sit down to negotiate and come to an agreement.” Hadi Al Ameriwhich leads a faction of the influential Hashd Al Shaabi, the former pro-Iranian paramilitaries, also called on the pro-Sadr movement and the Coordination Framework to prioritize “moderation (…), dialogue and constructive agreements to overcome differences “.
Friday night, Moqtada Sadr’s supporters looted the offices of Maliki’s Daawa party in Baghdad, as well as the offices of the Hikma Current, the party of Shia politician Ammar Al Hakim, which is part of the Coordination Framework, according to a security source.