INA interviews Al-Maliki: Changes to the elections law are only suggestions at this time

INA-  Baghdad


 
Nouri Al-Maliki, the head of the State of Law Coalition, stated on Thursday that political forces are committed to completing the process of selecting a new speaker of parliament. He emphasized that there is no decision to amend the election law in the coordination framework; rather, there are only ideas being proposed. Nevertheless, he emphasized the need for calm and the cessation of attacks against Americans, as this will allow the government to manage the dialogue with Washington and establish a timeline for pullout.  


"It is normal to hold a second round in light of the failure to win one of the candidates for the presidency of the parliament in the first session," Al-Maliki stated in an interview with the Iraqi News Agency (INA). "But there is a party that wants to open the door for candidacy again, and this did not happen unless the Federal Court invalidates the first session," he added, noting that those who ran in the first round and were not disqualified by the Federal Court are eligible to run again in the second round.

He noted that differences among the Sunni forces prevented reaching a single candidate, particularly since some of them want from outside Anbar and others want from within. He continued by saying that it is serious to end the process of electing a new speaker of parliament in order to maintain balance and stability and to prevent those who claim that the Shiite component is preferable.
 
"Noting that there is a request to put forward the election of a new speaker of parliament in Saturday's session and there is another opinion in Monday's session in order to firm up dialogues and reach an agreement," he made note of the encouraging steps that have been taken toward the selection of a new speaker of the parliament, particularly since the coordination framework informed the Sunni forces of the need to agree on one candidate, but there is an expectation that he will be more than one.
 

Amendment of the Election Law

Al-Maliki emphasized that there has not been a decision made within the coordination framework to amend the election law, but rather that ideas have been proposed, discussed, and the highest winner adopted. This suggests that the second aspect pertains to early elections, with the Sadrist movement being among the most demanding, in addition to other groups as stated in one of the government program's paragraphs. However, these are merely ideas and have not been brought to a discussion table for a decision.

 
Al-Maliki emphasized that while early elections are not guaranteed to produce the current results, the issue was addressed in the government program and in the demands of the Sadrist movement and other powers. The State of Law Coalition, he added, is neither in favor of nor against early elections; rather, it leaves it up to the powers that desire it.
 
In addition to their opinions on the other hand, he clarified that there is information available regarding the orientations and activities of the Sadrist movement to take part in the elections, whether early or later. He also noted that there is no government spared from judgments, and that those who criticize the current one or not are associated with those who seek advancements in particular fields.

The coordination framework, according to Al-Maliki, is dedicated to the present government and meets and talks with Prime Minister Mohamed Shia Al-Sudani on a regular basis.


Consequences of the Gaza War and the international coalition's withdrawal


He emphasized the need to maintain calm for the armed factions and halt attacks to give the government the opportunity to manage talks with the US side to set a timeline for withdrawal from Iraq and transition to bilateral cooperation. He pointed out that the Gaza War contributed to the escalation of conflict in the Middle East, and that this expansion is not in anyone's best interests. Despite international pressure to stop operations and allow the entry of medicine and food to the Palestinian people, the measures taken are still far short of what is needed. He emphasized that the Iraqi people oppose the presence of foreign combat forces on their territory and that negotiations, not force, must be used to force the withdrawal of foreign forces.

He went on to say that certain Iraqi banks had been unfairly targeted by US sanctions, which were imposed selectively and without cause.