Allawi praises Al-Sudani’s leadership, says it averted ‘disaster’ in Iraq

BAGHDAD – Ayad Allawi, leader of the National Accord Movement, praised Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ Al-Sudani in an interview on AlSharqiya TV, asserting that his leadership has spared Iraq from a potential disaster.

“If Al-Sudani had not taken office, a catastrophe would have occurred,” Allawi said on September 3, 2024. Allawi, who served as Iraq’s first prime minister after the 2003 invasion, described Al-Sudani as a composed leader who handles situations with caution and possesses a deep understanding of Iraq’s dynamics. “Unlike many other politicians, Al-Sudani has no record of corruption and has not exhibited sectarian behavior during his time in various ministerial roles.”

Allawi’s support for Al-Sudani comes amid an investigation into alleged phone tapping by a member of staff within the Prime Minister’s office.

While commending Al-Sudani, Allawi also criticized Iraq’s political situation, citing a lack of trust among factions and the dominance of sectarian politics.

Below are are excerpts from Allawi’s interview.

The opposition forces that took power after 2003 caused a significant setback for Iraq and divided the Iraqi people. I recall when Abdul Aziz Al-Hakim came to inform me of Ayatollah Sistani’s request regarding the Shia list project. I rejected it, warning him that it would divide the people, and even the different components would eventually split among themselves — which is exactly what happened.

The previous regime was sectarian in some of its policies, especially after the revolution in Iran. However, the forces that came to power afterward are the ones who truly established the sectarian system and completely betrayed the Iraqi people.

There is no real difference between the current and former regimes regarding partisanship and a lust for power. Saddam [Hussein] was the sole decision-maker in Iraq, and this situation remains in one form or another. The differences between the two systems are minimal, limited to a few minor details.

If Al-Sudani had not taken office, Iraq would have faced a major disaster. He is not a savior, of course, but he is calmer than others and approaches matters more cautiously. Moreover, he is deeply rooted in Iraqi experience, never having left the country. He has no record of corruption and has not shown sectarian behavior during his management of various ministries.

There is great chaos in the Iraqi political scene, and trust is entirely absent from the political process; no side trusts the other. Political blocs are formed and dissolved daily.

The Sunnis are as divided as the Shia, and standards of performance and achievement have completely disappeared. Political money now determines loyalties and buys allegiances. I see no solution to the deadlock over the vacancy of the Speaker of Parliament, and if there is a solution, it must address the entire Iraqi situation.

The issue of the proposed Personal Status Law is merely a distraction from more important issues, such as the General Amnesty Law and the repeal of the De-Baathification Law, transferring its cases to the judiciary. The law will commodify women; is it reasonable to marry off a girl at the age of nine or deny her inheritance rights? This is absurd.

People have lost faith in the political system and process. If we chart participation rates, we would see a significant decline from the 2010 elections to the present, with current rates falling below 20%.

We must restore confidence in the political process, and there are several approaches to correct the situation, including a shift towards a presidential system. The key question is whether the current political process serves Iraq. The clear and straightforward answer is that it divides and destroys the country.

The political process has entered a state of clinical death. I am currently working on forming a national civil front, and we have reached out to many parties. I do not think the Islamists will join us, but that is the challenge. We must escape this volatile environment, which could explode at any moment and potentially lead to civil war.

Iraq is currently in the final stages of its civil identity. If we fail to take real, positive steps, armed militias and gangs will take over. When the parliament fails to elect a Speaker, it is a clear sign of a deep and serious illness.

If I were the head of the Constitutional Amendment Committee now, I would issue statements regarding ambiguous clauses, such as the Oil and Gas Law, the Federal Council, and the mechanism for wealth distribution. Then, I would present the constitution to independent experts to identify deficiencies and suggest corrections, as the current constitution is flawed.