Abadi, al-Sadr call for quick formation of Iraq gov’t

By Ibrahim Salih

BAGHDAD (AA) – Iraqi Prime Minister Haidar al-Abadi and Shia cleric Muqtada al-Sadr on Sunday called for speeding up the formation of the new government following the country’s parliamentary election.

According to the final results of the parliamentary election, al-Sadr’s Sairoon coalition won 54 seats in parliament, followed by the Hashd al-Shaabi-led coalition with 47 seats and al-Abadi’s Nasr (Victory) coalition with 42 seats.

Al-Sadr’s coalition did not win the majority needed to form a government alone but will play a primary role in selecting the next prime minister.

According to a statement released by al-Abadi’s office, the prime minister met Sunday with al-Sadr in the capital Baghdad.

"The meeting with al-Sadr came to work together to accelerate the formation of the government," the statement quoted al-Abadi as saying.

“The next government should be strong, provide services and employment opportunities, improve living standards and fight corruption,” he said.

The Iraqi premier went on to call on all political blocs to accept the vote results and follow the legal means to dispute the results with the election commission.

Al-Sadr, for his part, described the meeting as “reassuring”.

"Our hands are extended to all those who seek to build the country,” the statement quoted al-Sadr as saying.

He underlined the importance of “speeding up the formation of a new government that fulfills the aspirations of our people”.

Iraq’s election results were announced on Saturday, one week after Iraqis cast their ballot in the first parliamentary election since the country announced the defeat of the Daesh terrorist group after a three-year war.

Preliminary results were announced earlier this week, but allegations of fraud and irregularities delayed the complete count.