New Sunni coalition formed, demanding three ministries in the new Iraqi government

Baghdad, Sunni blocs meet to form the coalition of “liberated provinces”, April 29, 2020. Photo: Media Office of the Coalition

Ahmad Zaidi- Nineveh

The coalition of “liberated provinces” consisting of numerous Sunni parliament members and politicians asks for three ministries in the new Iraqi government supposed to be formed by the Prime Minister-Designate Mustafa Al-Kadhimi.

On Thursday, April 30, the coalition will submit a request to the Al-Kadhimi, asking for three miniseries in the new cabinet.

The Sunni figures and politicians gathered in the house of Khamis al-Khanjar, head of Al Mehwar coalition.

Mohammed Iqbal, a member of the Iraqi Council of Representatives, in a statement, said the share of our coalition is three ministries, and they will formally submit the request to Mustafa Al-Kadhimi to know his opinion.

They will announce their stance if their demand is not met, according to the statement.

Numerous parliament members have joined the coalition, including Mohammed Iqbal, former education minister, and Khalid Obidi, former defense minister.

Khamis al-Khanjar, a member of the coalition, has promised to restore the rights of the provinces and the areas “liberated” from the Islamic State group (IS), determine the fate of the missing people, according to his statement.

The coalition, in the statement, demand the release of innocent people, want weapons to be in the hand of the state, asks for the withdrawal of the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) from the provinces and a revision to the law of general pardon.

A source from the coalition told KirkukNow that their main competitor is the bloc that is led by Mohamed al-Halbousi, speaker of Iraqi parliament.

The source added they do not only aim to participate in the new government, but also to form an electoral coalition for the upcoming elections.

Mustafa Al-Kadhimi, head of Iraqi National Intelligence, was designated by Iraqi President Barham Salih to form the new Iraqi government on April 9, having the support from the Shia parties, the Kurds, the Sunnis. Al-Kadhimi’s 30-day constitutional mandate to form the government ends on April 9.

Another source familiar with the coalition states that Hal party, led by Jamal Al-Karboli, is one of the Sunni parties supporting the coalition and has ordere the Dijlah TV channel to reveal corruption cases of individuals belonging to the bloc of Mohammed Al- Halbousi.

The National Movement coalition, the largest Sunni bloc, divided into two bloc in 2019 due to internal conflicts. Now each bloc is led by Mohamed al-Halbousi and Khamis al-Khanjar.

 

 

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