Al-Sadr Resolves Controversy on Consensus Government

The leader of the Sadrist movement, Muqtada al-Sadr, confirmed on Wednesday that he will never participate in a consensus government. In a speech during a reception for several winning independent candidates from the elections, al-Sadr stated that "the recent elections have produced an important outcome, represented by the emergence of a class of independents." He pointed to the attempts to buy off independents, indicating that "some parties are seeking to sway independents either through persuasion or intimidation, as independents do not have militias to fear, which leads to their votes being taken and party-affiliated candidates being raised at their expense; this is actually happening." He elaborated, "Nevertheless, this is trivial compared to the second point, as some entities do not hesitate to resort to murder, especially since in this election, if a deputy falls, another will run from another party depending on the electoral votes." He called for the protection of independent deputies and the prevention of any attacks, intimidation, or persuasion against them, stating, "I am ready to provide any service in this regard."