Shia cleric and leader of Iraq’s Sadrist Movement, Muqtada al-Sadr, is expected to thwart the candidacy of Mohammed al-Sudani as the country’s next prime minister, according to observers.
Coordination Framework, a Shia alliance close to Iran, chose Al-Sudani as their premiership candidate in Iraq. Concerns, though, are growing that al-Sadr, whose movement won last year’s general elections, would oppose his candidacy.
A veto could be in the cards for al-Sadr, who has previously stated that he will not accept al-offer Sudani’s to form a government.
Former Labor and Social Affairs Minister al-Sudani was elected to parliament three times in a row by the State of Law Coalition of former Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki.
Former Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi, the president of the National Wisdom Movement, and the leader of the powerful Shia party Asaib Ahl al-Haq all back him.
In addition to Iraqi Hezbollah’s political section, numerous militia leaders have endorsed al-Sudani for leadership.
Meanwhile, the Masoud Barzani-led Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) and the Sovereignty Alliance, Parliament’s largest Sunni group, have yet to announce their views on al-candidacy al-Sudani’s as prime minister candidate.
