Political negotiations are underway in Iraq, while the great winner of the elections, Muktada Sadr, seeks to form a majority government, a government that will be led only by his party and his allies in parliament. This situation would be unprecedented because since the first elections in the country in 2005, the opposing political parties have always shared ministerial positions, forming a government as a result of a national consensus, where each political party would have a share of power.
What Mr. Sadr is asking for today will be the first, but the other parties do not agree with this request. Particularly close to Iran, which has lost several seats in parliament this year, but which, along with other political parties, are also influencing the Chamber of Deputies. Today they claim a total of 88 seats out of 329, and claim to be the largest parliamentary bloc. So there is currently a standoff between these two great Shia houses, and for the time being, neither is ready to let go of the ballast.
This showdown could potentially destabilize the country. Remember that all these political parties have the support of armed groups in the country. Mr. Sadr, like leaders of pro-Tehran parties, has his own armed factions and can activate them at any time to defend his political interests. In recent weeks, on social networks, pro-Iranian fighters have already threatened an armed response. In recent days, there have also been unclaimed grenade attacks on the offices of MPs.
The prime minister, still in office, was himself the subject of a drone assassination attempt in early November. So the situation is worrying. Even though the country is still far from open conflict and negotiations are still going on between the two camps, these parties must come to an understanding and reach a political settlement, as has always been the case in the past, so that Iraq can be given a to be prevented from passing through. new crisis.