Khazali claims PM warned of Baath meeting in Erbil, alleges foreign-backed bid to delay elections

BAGHDAD — Qais Al-Khazali, secretary-general of Asaib Ahl Al-Haq, said Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani informed the Coordination Framework about a meeting held by the Baath Party’s regional leadership in Erbil.

In a televised interview late Thursday, Khazali also alleged that efforts are underway to postpone upcoming elections, claiming foreign actors may exploit public demonstrations to inflame unrest and delay the vote.

Qais al-Khazali, in an interview with journalist Miqdad al-Humaidan:

There is no perfect government; every government has its strengths and weaknesses. The government of al-Sudani has more strengths than weaknesses, the most important of which is restoring public trust in the political process and achieving relative political, security, and economic stability, even though Iraq is going through lean years—especially this year—in terms of electricity, water reserves, and more. But we hope next year will be better.

Protests and foreign interference

I have information that foreign parties are trying to exploit protests to destabilize the situation in Iraq with the approach of elections, and to push for their postponement or for the formation of an emergency government. Although this scenario is not legally or constitutionally possible, it is also practically impossible—whether through protest pressure or otherwise.

The strengths Iraq currently possesses make it impossible for any foreign project to overturn the situation. Iraq held elections when ISIS was at the gates of Baghdad and its airport, held elections in 2018, overcame the exceptional protests of 2019, and even the events of 2021 failed to shake the political and social foundations of the political system. I don’t expect future scenarios to reach a threatening level; they might cause some disturbance, but that’s all.

What did al-Sudani say in the latest meeting?

The Prime Minister spoke in the latest meeting about plans by Baathist groups aiming to stir unrest in the central and southern provinces. There is clear information about logistical support coming from the Kurdistan Region and Turkey. This information should be presented to the public and not remain secret so that society is prepared and aware of what is happening. There must be direct dialogue with the involved parties, meaning specifically Kurdistan and Turkey.

Turkey and the Kurdistan Region must address the issue of Baathist groups planning to destabilize the country. This is out of goodwill with the Turks, and also out of the Kurdistan Region’s obligation to adhere to Iraqi laws. If Turkey demands security and military actions against the PKK, then it should also take similar actions against the Baath Party, which is even more dangerous to Iraqi security than the PKK.

Where did the Baath Party meet, according to al-Sudani?

The Prime Minister revealed in his security report during the latest Coordination Framework meeting that a meeting of the Baath Party’s regional command was held in Kurdistan, attended by the party’s Secretary-General. According to the Prime Minister, contact was made with the local government in that province, but the matter was not handled appropriately. This issue must move from being a government issue to a political one at the state level. It must be treated as a threat to the political system and confronted accordingly—regardless of the party involved.

God Almighty and al-Fayyadh

Those who obstructed the passage of the PMF (Popular Mobilization Forces) law must be held accountable before the Iraqi people. Delaying the law is on al-Sudani. Certainly, there is a convergence of interests around keeping Haj Faleh al-Fayyadh in his position. The one protecting him is not God Almighty but other parties. He will not stay in that position indefinitely—we have an Iraqi law that regulates this matter.

There are no disagreements about relocating the PMF from cities to camps in the same provinces. Its mission is to protect the country from primary threats, while internal and policing duties should be assigned to the Ministry of Interior. Even in Baghdad and other provinces, we seek to reach a level of stability that allows for ending the role of joint operations commands.

Turkey’s ambitions

Turkey entered Cyprus, Libya, and Syria and never withdrew—in fact, it increased its bases there. It won’t leave Iraq easily, whether the PKK is dissolved or not, or whether the PKK participates in the Turkish political system or not. Turkey’s ambitions are expansionist, and it seeks to annex Nineveh province into “Greater Turkey,” which includes parts of Kurdistan, Kirkuk, and northern Salah al-Din.

The decision to disarm the PKK is good, and Turkey must withdraw its forces from Iraq. Everyone should call for this—not just at the governmental level, but by all political forces in the Iraqi state.

What about the Emir of Qatar?

The Emir of Qatar attended the Baghdad Summit, and it was clear he was embarrassed by the absence of kings and leaders of other countries. The presence of Ahmad al-Sharaa was conditional on settling his legal issues in Iraq, and al-Sudani’s meeting with him [In Qatar] was neither necessary nor appropriate.

The difference between me and al-Sharaa

American prisons held detainees on various charges. Some attacked the Americans—that is honorable. Others attacked the Iraqi security forces—that is dishonorable. Al-Sharaa knows the difference between him and me, and what I did in the Karbala operation. Being held in an American prison does not mean all detainees are the same. Their prisons held the great jihadi figure Abu Zainab al-Khalisi, but also Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi.

The Kurdish position

The Kurds have their own status—their geography, language, and traditions—and they want to crown that with the dream of independence. We told them to be realistic. Regional dynamics won’t allow that, even if Iraq is weak at the moment. We expected them to send positive signals after the events of 2017, but that didn’t happen. The visit of Mr. Masrour Barzani to the United States confirms the persistence in continuing on a path of distancing Kurdistan from Iraq.