After disagreements over corruption, Iraq’s al-Sadr threatens to join opposition

The head of the Iraqi Sadrist Movement, Muqtada al-Sadr, has threatened to join the opposition if disagreements around presidential candidate persists.

In a tweet sent out on Thursday, al-Sadr said: “We agreed with the leaders of Iraq to elect a number of personalities based on technical qualifications to the position of the prime minister. It was a purely Iraqi decision, and it stated having the prime minister pick his ministers away from divisions based on parties and sects.”

Al-Sadr added that the above was done with “correct and accepted standards, in terms of specialization, experience, and integrity.”

He went on to say that some politicians were quick to reject the system and the idea of independence. “They rejected the idea of technocracy to take Iraq back to square one and bring back corruption in a new form. They want parties and their economic bodies to rise in power over the people and their rights.”

Al-Sadr then threatened and said: “If they stick to this route, I will announce my decision to join the opposition.”

On Wednesday, al-Sadr hosted Hadi al-Amiri, leader of the Fatah Alliance, which is an affiliate of the Popular Mobilization Forces, in his office in Najaf. They discussed latest developments related to formation of the new government.