2021–2022 Iraqi political crisis

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2021–2022 Iraqi political crisis
Date <templatestyles src="Plainlist/styles.css"/>
  • 5 November 2021 – present
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Location
Iraq
Caused by
Status Ongoing
Parties to the civil conflict
Lead figures
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Units involved
Number
Casualties and losses
Casualties

Since the parliamentary election in October 2021, there has been a political crisis in Iraq, with members of the Council of Representatives of Iraq being unable to form a stable coalition government, or elect a new President.[1] For 10 months the national political system has been in a political deadlock.[2]

Events

Violent clashes in Baghdad following the election and the attempted assassination of Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kadhimi began the crisis.[3] On 18 November Muqtada al-Sadr said he would like to form a majority government.[4]

On 9 January, the newly elected parliament met for the first time in the Green Zone to elect the parliament speaker and two deputies. After a chaotic first parliamentary session which resulted in senior interim parliament speaker Mahmoud al-Mashahadani falling ill and being taken to hospital.[5] However, after that Sunni lawmaker and current parliament speaker Mohamed al-Halbousi was re-elected for a second term,[6] with Shakhawan Abdulla, from the Kurdistan Democratic Party and Hakim al-Zamili, from the Sadrist Movement.[7] The Kurdistan Democratic Party, Sadrist Movement and Progress Party succeeded in fulfilling all three positions due to the candidates of each bloc voting for each other.[7] This resulted in the Shiite Pro-Iran factions in parliament to disregard the outcome and claim they have 88 seats,[8] and more than the Sadrist Movement. Parliament was then temporarily suspended but later was able to resume again after a review by the Iraqi Supreme Court.[9]

According to the Constitution of Iraq a president must be selected within 30 days after the election of the parliament speaker.[10] Incumbent President Barham Salih was chosen by the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan to run for a potential second term as president, while the Kurdistan Democratic Party selected former foreign minister Hoshyar Zebari to run for the post, a second attempt for the presidency for the Kurdistan Democratic Party.[10]

As of May 2022, no government has been formed and no president has been appointed by parliament.[11] On 13 June 2022, 73 MPs from al-Sadr's bloc resigned from parliament.[12][13] On 23 June, the Council of Representatives swore in 73 new members in their place.[14] As a result, the Coordination Framework bloc, an alliance of Iran-backed parties led by Nouri al-Maliki, grew to 130 seats.[15]

On 17 July, secret recordings were leaked of Nouri al-Maliki, the former Prime Minister, in which he was criticising al-Sadr. This was reported to have been controversial and a factor in deepening the crisis.[16]

On 25 July, the framework nominated former minister and governor of Maysan Governorate Mohammed Shia' Al Sudani as prime minister.[17]

On 27 July, angry about the influence of Iran in Iraqi domestic governance, followers of al-Sadr breached the Green Zone and the Iraqi Parliament in Baghdad. After a public message by al-Sadr to "pray and go home," the crowd dispersed.[18] Thousands of supporters of Muqtada al-Sadr have been camping in the parliament building since July 27.[19]

On 3 August, Muqtada al-Sadr called for snap elections.[20]

On 29 August, Sadr announced via a tweet his retirement from political life. Later that day, his supporters stormed the presidential palace and armed clashes inside the Green Zone ensued, resulting in the deaths of at least 15 protesters.[21] The Iraqi Army announced a nationwide curfew. Protests and clashes also erupted in Basra and Maysan Governorate in southern Iraq.[21]

On 30 August, fighting spread to Karbala and escalated in Basra as demonstrators stormed the Iraqi parliamentary office in Karbala[22] and blocked the entrance to Umm Qasr port.[23]

References

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  21. ↑ 21.0 21.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  22. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  23. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
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