And although Sadr’s bloc won the biggest number of seats

Iraq’s Political Leaders Try To Form Government

Two weeks after parliamentary elections delivered a surprise win for Shiite cleric Muqtada al Sadr, Iraq’s divided political leaders are scrambling to put together the pieces of a coalition government.

Canada Goose Outlet Sadr’s Sa’iroun political bloc won 54 canada goose outlet uk seats in Iraq’s 329 member parliament more than any other political grouping, but far from the majority needed to govern. Canada Goose Outlet

Canada Goose Jackets Iraq’s first post ISIS elections were among the most peaceful since 2003. He holds no official political position and, according to aides, has no interest in being prime minister. Canada Goose Jackets

cheap canada goose uk But he has channeled his revered religious family’s traditional canada goose outlet canada goose outlet store base of poor, disenfranchised Shiites into a much wider alliance. And in promising an end to patronage and party quotas, he has in many ways set the agenda for Iraq’s next government. canada goose outlet Sadr has promised a canada goose outlet shop government of technocrats that would deliver public services largely lacking for the last 15 years. cheap canada goose uk

buy canada goose jacket “Iraqi people are fed up with the old politicians and they want the new systems, the new people and the canada goose outlet nyc new styles to work with,” Sadr’s spokesman Sheikh Salah al Obeidi told NPR at the party offices in Baghdad. “We are looking for a new kind of canada goose outlet uk sale government. We have the main outlines of this program and we want to discuss with the other parties how to make a full program.” buy canada goose jacket

Canada Goose Parka Obeidi says while previous governments have chosen a prime minister and cabinet ministers on the basis of party loyalty, a new government would agree first on a reform program and compile a cabinet qualified https://www.canadagoosestorevip.com to carry it out. Canada Goose Parka

Political leaders in the flurry of late canada goose outlet parka night meetings in Baghdad have signaled their intentions through photo ops and tweets. One tweet by Sadr, never previously known for his levity, used a play on words to indicate that his political bloc could partner with almost everyone apart from former prime minister Nouri al Maliki.

“Maliki himself is responsible for many of the disasters canada goose outlet jackets that came to canada goose outlet reviews Iraq so it is difficult to accept him,” Obeidi said.

canada goose clearance sale The bitter history between Maliki and Sadr includes Maliki sending canada goose outlet online Iraqi forces to take back Basra from control of Sadr’s Mahdi Army militia in 2008. It also includes what is widely viewed as Maliki’s deeply sectarian policies in his second term after 2010, which is blamed for contributing to the rise of ISIS. troops after the 2003 invasion of Iraq. They are blamed canada goose outlet online uk for fueling Iraq’s civil war, including sectarian cleansing of Baghdad neighborhoods. Sadr’s advisors explain his transformation into a pan Iraqi leader who has reached out to Sunnis, secularists and minorities by saying that these are different times. canada goose clearance sale

Canada Goose online As prime minister and chief of staff, Maliki ordered mass arrests in sweeps of Sunni towns and cities. Political favoritism and corruption in the Iraqi army was so endemic, entire army divisions collapsed rather than fight ISIS in 2014. Canada Goose online

Obeidi, though, leaves the door open for a coalition that could include paramilitary commander Hadi canada goose outlet in usa al Amri’s Fatah political bloc, made up mainly of pro Iranian militias and even Maliki, if his political bloc signs onto a program of government reform. Fatah won 47 seats and Maliki’s political bloc won 26.

buy canada goose jacket cheap Obeidi predicts that forming a coalition with enough seats to govern could be done in two weeks. In Iraq’s fractured political landscape, attempts to form previous governments have taken up to six months. And although Sadr’s bloc won the biggest number of seats, there is nothing to canada goose factory outlet preclude another grouping coming together with more seats, leaving the Sadrists in opposition. buy canada goose jacket cheap

Canada Goose Coats On Sale In recent weeks, Sadr has made a point of meeting with diplomats in Baghdad, including the Turkish, Spanish and Syrian ambassadors. Canada Goose Coats On Sale

canada goose clearance Obeidi says Sadr would draw the line, though, at meeting American or British envoys. canada goose clearance

canada goose “I think it is very difficult,” he says. “As [far as] canada goose black friday sale I know, Sayid Muqtada Sadr still thinks there are many problems to have such a step with American officials.” (Sayid is an honorific denoting a descendant of the Prophet Mohammad). canada goose

canada goose coats on sale Still, previous government ministries run by the Sadr movement cooperated with programs involving the United States, Obeidi points out. troops to play an advisory role in Iraq. canada goose coats on sale

Canada Goose sale “Fixed American army bases inside Iraq are a problem for goose outlet canada us,” he says. “But when [current prime minister Haider al ] Abadi made a decision to bring American soldiers to Iraq, Sayid Muqtada Sadr did not stop his support to al Abadi because he understands that al Abadi made such decisions in order to help Iraq.” Canada Goose sale

Obeidi points out that Sadr also rejects Iranian interference in Iraq. Sadr has not publicly met with Iranian military commander Qassim Suleimani, who has also been in Baghdad for talks since the election.

canada goose coats Suleimani “will not give up trying to use his canada goose outlet store uk influence, but at the same time, it is up to Iraqis to stop this,” he says. “From Sayid canada goose outlet black friday Muqtada Sadr, he refuses such influence not only from the Americans but from the Iranians. Maybe a canada goose jacket outlet kind of advice here and there but interference is refused.” canada goose coats

Sadr so far has indicated he is ready to partner with Abadi and Ammar al Hakim, another prominent Shiite leader who previously headed the Islamic Supreme Council of Iraq, a major political faction. Abadi and former prime minister canada goose outlet sale Maliki belong to the same party, but they created separate political blocs for this election, a move that is seen as contributing to Abadi’s relatively poor showing in the polls just 42 seats.

canada goose uk shop And despite their differences on Iran, Sadr has met canada goose outlet new york city with Amri, the head of Iraq’s popular canada goose outlet toronto factory mobilization forces mostly Shiite militias assembled to fight ISIS. The participation of Fatah in a government coalition is seen as likely to increase Iranian influence in canada goose outlet canada a governing coalition, but it is clear that all parties are keeping their options open. canada goose uk shop

canada goose store Kurdish politicians, who among them hold more than 45 seats in parliament, have also come to Baghdad for talks on joining a coalition canada goose store.