Party linked to Iran-backed militia withdraws from Iraqi parliament
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - The political wing of the Iran-backed militia Kataib Hezbollah on Thursday announced its withdrawal from the Iraqi parliament, refusing to fill the vacant seats left by previously resigned Sadrist MPs.
Hussein Muanas, head of the Huquq Movement, announced in a video statement on Thursday the resignation of the political bloc from the Iraqi parliament.
“We have made a decision to withdraw from the Council of Representatives and not fill the seats of the resigned MPS because we will not become substitutes for the brothers in the Sadrist bloc,” said Muanas.
Muanas added that their withdrawal does not affect their support for the formation of an Iraqi government, stressing that the party will not “deviate” from representing the people.
The withdrawal of Huquq comes as influential Shiite cleric and leader of the Sadrist Movement Muqtada al-Sadr on Wednesday urged the parliamentary blocs not to be intimidated by the “illegal” pressures, referring to Iran, asking political parties to take a “brave stance for reformation and saving the homeland."
Huquq, an ally of the Coordination Framework, had secured one seat following Iraq’s October elections and were bound to get five additional seats following the resignation of the Sadrists earlier this month.
The movement refrained from attending the parliament’s exceptional session on Thursday where a total of 64 new members of the Iraqi parliament were sworn in, replacing the majority of the resigned MPs. Nine seats remain vacant.
Sadr asked all 73 MPs of his bloc to submit their resignations to the parliament’s speaker on June 12, in an effort to put an end to the political impasse that has plagued Iraq since October’s elections. The resignations were approved by Mohammed al-Halbousi soon after.
Iraq continues to be shrouded in political instability with the country yet to form its next government a staggering eight months following the October elections.
The Coordination Framework was the Sadrist Movement’s most formidable opponent before the withdrawal of the latter, opposing Sadr’s attempts at forming a national majority government and insisting on forming a government based on political consensus.
Hussein Muanas, head of the Huquq Movement, announced in a video statement on Thursday the resignation of the political bloc from the Iraqi parliament.
“We have made a decision to withdraw from the Council of Representatives and not fill the seats of the resigned MPS because we will not become substitutes for the brothers in the Sadrist bloc,” said Muanas.
Muanas added that their withdrawal does not affect their support for the formation of an Iraqi government, stressing that the party will not “deviate” from representing the people.
The withdrawal of Huquq comes as influential Shiite cleric and leader of the Sadrist Movement Muqtada al-Sadr on Wednesday urged the parliamentary blocs not to be intimidated by the “illegal” pressures, referring to Iran, asking political parties to take a “brave stance for reformation and saving the homeland."
Huquq, an ally of the Coordination Framework, had secured one seat following Iraq’s October elections and were bound to get five additional seats following the resignation of the Sadrists earlier this month.
The movement refrained from attending the parliament’s exceptional session on Thursday where a total of 64 new members of the Iraqi parliament were sworn in, replacing the majority of the resigned MPs. Nine seats remain vacant.
Sadr asked all 73 MPs of his bloc to submit their resignations to the parliament’s speaker on June 12, in an effort to put an end to the political impasse that has plagued Iraq since October’s elections. The resignations were approved by Mohammed al-Halbousi soon after.
Iraq continues to be shrouded in political instability with the country yet to form its next government a staggering eight months following the October elections.
The Coordination Framework was the Sadrist Movement’s most formidable opponent before the withdrawal of the latter, opposing Sadr’s attempts at forming a national majority government and insisting on forming a government based on political consensus.