Sadr allies with Fatih, says alliances with Wataniya and Hikma remain
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Muqtada al-Sadr whose Sayirun alliance won Iraq’s parliamentary election announced he has allied with the head of Fatih Alliance Hadi al-Amiri while maintaining his previous alliance with Wataniya and Hikma.
The election results announced by Iraq’s High Independent Electoral Commission are disputed. Nine commissioners have been replaced by appointed judges.
A fire broke out at a warehouse of the electoral commission on Sunday. The warehouse only contained votes cast in the predominately Shiite al-Rusafa area of Baghdad.
Regarding the fire, Sadr said that they will comment when the results are announced.
“What happened to the ballot boxes is a terrible crime and we will have a position after the announcement of the results,” he said.
After the blaze, Sadr penned a poem targeting corruption in the current government.
Amid the debacle there have been calls for a nationwide manual recount and a revote. The paper ballots were taken to Baghdad after some parties alleged the electronic voting system, which was supposed to eliminate fraud, was manipulated.
Amiri said that “we do not have problem with manual recount of votes only if the percentage is 5-10 percent.”
"Our new alliance is a national alliance within the framework of patriotism,” Sadr said during his joint press conference at his with house in Najaf with Amiri present on Tuesday.
"We announce to everyone that it is a real alliance between Sayirun and Fatih for the purpose of speeding up the national government formation. Everyone is invited into the national space," added Sadr.
The Amiri called it an "honored" visit for an Iftar. He confirmed the alliance.
"This announcement is the beginning of a national alliance. We believe in the national landscape. This is a call for everyone into the national landscape," said Amiri.
The election results announced by Iraq’s High Independent Electoral Commission are disputed. Nine commissioners have been replaced by appointed judges.
A fire broke out at a warehouse of the electoral commission on Sunday. The warehouse only contained votes cast in the predominately Shiite al-Rusafa area of Baghdad.
Regarding the fire, Sadr said that they will comment when the results are announced.
“What happened to the ballot boxes is a terrible crime and we will have a position after the announcement of the results,” he said.
After the blaze, Sadr penned a poem targeting corruption in the current government.
Amid the debacle there have been calls for a nationwide manual recount and a revote. The paper ballots were taken to Baghdad after some parties alleged the electronic voting system, which was supposed to eliminate fraud, was manipulated.
Amiri said that “we do not have problem with manual recount of votes only if the percentage is 5-10 percent.”
Ahmed al-Assadi, the spokesperson for Fatih said alliance with Sadr’s Sayirun "is not to exclude anyone, it will become a basis to form a national government based on service."
He further said in the statement they have formed the "biggest parliamentary bloc and call on all winning blocs to join this alliance.”
According to the IHEC’s disputed results, Sadr’s list won 54 seats, Amiri 47, Ammar al-Hakim’s Hikma (Wisdom) 19, and Allawi and Jabouri 21 — totaling 141.
Last updated at 11:59 p.m.
He further said in the statement they have formed the "biggest parliamentary bloc and call on all winning blocs to join this alliance.”
Sadr also said his alliance with Ammar al-Hakim's Hikma and Ayad Allawi and Salim al-Jabouri's Wataniya remains.
To form a new government, a coalition of 165 seats are needed out of the 329 in parliament.
According to the IHEC’s disputed results, Sadr’s list won 54 seats, Amiri 47, Ammar al-Hakim’s Hikma (Wisdom) 19, and Allawi and Jabouri 21 — totaling 141.
Last updated at 11:59 p.m.