New Iraqi, Kurdish alliance refuses to join 'quota government'

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - The formation of a new alliance between Iraqi and Kurdish opposition blocs and elected independent MPs was announced on Wednesday, with the new group saying they will commit to parliamentary work and not join the government.

“Our brothers from Kurds and Arabs unite in a political alliance as they seek to unify efforts in political and parliamentary work. We promise the people that this bloc will be the resounding voice in the next stage, and will present a different model for parliamentary work and decision-making,” Alaa al-Rikabi, head of the Emtidad Movement said during a press conference on Wednesday, Iraqi state media reported. 

Known as For the People Alliance, it was formed between the Kurdish New Generation party, the Iraqi Emtidad Movement which emerged from the Tishreen (October) protest movement, and ten independent representatives. The alliance refused to participate in the quota government.

“We will not participate in the quota government,” Rikabi said.

More independent members are expected to join the alliance, according to Rikabi, who noted that they “hope to reach 40 parliamentary seats.”

Iraq held early elections on October 10 in response to October 2019 protests complaining of corruption and ineptitude among the ruling class and political system. The Emtidad Movement, which secured nine seats, considers itself representative of the thousands of people who took to the streets in 2019 and brought down the government of former Prime Minister Adil Abdul-Mahdi.  

Emtidad said they are prepared to form a parliamentary opposition bloc a week after the vote was held. 

Head of New Generation Shaswar Abdulwahid, said the doors of the new alliance are open to everyone and there is no place “for those who are after gaining personal benefit,” media outlet affiliated with the party quoted him as saying.

“We announce and confirm that we proudly deny all the government and ministerial positions,” he added at the presser. “We shall be committed, we will look up to the future, the benefits of this people, and we go forward to build a national opposition. It will be the voice of the nation, and no voice shall be louder”

The Sulaimani businessmen-turned-politician Abdulwahid formed the party in 2018 and shook up Kurdistan Region’s political scene, offering voters an alternative to the traditional ruling parties and leaders who have had a tight grip on power for decades.

The party exceeded expectations by winning four seats in the Iraqi parliament in May 2018 elections and eight in the Kurdistan Region parliament in September. This year, it secured nine seats.

The Independent High Electoral Commission (IHEC) announced the final election results on November 30, with the Sadrist movement, Taqadum, Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP), and the State of Law Coalition securing the largest number of seats. However, several Iran-backed parties who performed poorly in the election alleged fraud, demanding the cancellation of the vote.

IHEC in late November said there was no evidence of election fraud in the election results.

Once the results are ratified by the Supreme Court, a process of forming the government is set in motion, as dictated by the constitution. Within 15 days of the ratification of the results, the president calls on the parliament to meet, chaired by its eldest member, and elect a speaker and two deputies by an absolute majority. The parliament also elects a president by a two-thirds majority.

The president then tasks the largest bloc in the parliament with forming the government, naming a prime minister within 15 days of the election of the president. The prime minister-elect then has 30 days to name a cabinet.