Senior Hikma Party Member:

Iraq Preparing for National Conference to Form Parliament, Gov't

Rasa - A senior member of the Shiite Hikma party announced that a national conference to be participated by different Iraqi groups will be held soon to end the crisis on the formation of the parliament and government.

News ID: 438315

Date: 19 June 2018 - 21:43

RNA - "Given our good relations with al-Fatah party, we tried to persuade them, the al-Nasr party and other groups to join the agreement and now Sa'eroun, Hikma, al-Fatah and Dolat al-Qanoun parties have agreed to hold a national conference in the next few days and all the winning parties will devise a plan for the next government within a united framework," Mohsen Hakim, a senior member of Hikma party's political office, told on Monday.

He underlined that the Iraqi groups which are closer to each other should have the opportunity to form the government based on an efficient plan and resolve people's problems.

"Anyone who has the necessary capabilities to implement the plans should join the government and others should be present at the parliament to perform as opposition," Hakim said.

According to Fars News Agancy, earlier this month, Iraqi Shiite leader Muqtada al-Sadr announced an alliance with the political bloc led by Hadi al-Amiri in a bid to form government after last month's elections resulted in a hung parliament.

At a joint press conference with Amiri in the Shiite holy city of Najaf last Tuesday, Sadr hailed the formation of "a true alliance to accelerate the formation of a national government away from any dogmatism".

The move by Sadr is the first serious step towards forming a new government after weeks of negotiations between parties.

Sadr's Saeroun Alliance won the parliamentary elections with 54 seats but fell short of a majority in the 329-seat parliament.

Amiri's Fatah (Conquest) Coalition came second with 47 seats, while Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi's Nasr (Victory) Coalition once seen as the frontrunner, came in third.

847/940