The leader of the Sadrist movement, Muqtada al-Sadr, called on Thursday for the dissolution of armed factions in Iraq, urging armed groups not affiliated with the government to hand over their weapons. During a press conference in Najaf today, al-Sadr called for the "purification" of the Popular Mobilization Forces from "undisciplined elements," adding, "all armed factions must be dissolved."
Politically, al-Sadr stated, "We seek to form a national majority government," and urged "those wishing to participate in the government" to "hold accountable their members who have suspicions of corruption surrounding them, and to hand them over to the honest judiciary to uncover the truths." He added, "The people are looking to announce the election results and form the government quickly."
Al-Sadr, whose bloc topped the results of the recent early parliamentary elections, aims to break the prevailing political norm in Iraq, known as "partition" and form a "national majority government," which faces opposition from other forces that have influential armed wings in the country. Al-Sadr stated today, "They desire a coalition government, while I am for a national majority government," emphasizing that "our only options are either a national majority government or a national opposition."
He addressed his opponents, stating, "Your loss should not be the prelude to ending and ruining the democratic process." He continued, "What you are currently doing will squander your history and increase the people's aversion to you."
Alongside the prevailing tension in the Iraqi political scene, following the rejection by losing political forces of the preliminary election results held on October 10, negotiations are ongoing among political forces regarding the alliances that will lead to the formation of the next government. The judiciary is still examining appeals against the election results, amidst ongoing protests from supporters of losing political forces for over three weeks in the capital Baghdad, near the "Green Zone," which houses government and parliamentary headquarters and foreign diplomatic missions.
