Al-Fatlawi says Reconstruction and Development bloc aims to lead Shiite, national vote

BAGHDAD — Hanan Al-Fatlawi, a prominent figure on Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani’s Reconstruction and Development electoral list, said the bloc is poised to become “the number one bloc among the Shiites, and possibly nationwide,” in Iraq’s upcoming parliamentary elections.

In an interview with Dijlah TV, Al-Fatlawi described the coalition as a long-term political force rather than a short-term electoral alliance. “Reconstruction and Development is a political project, not just an electoral one,” she said.

Iraq is set to hold nationwide elections on Nov. 11, 2025, with all 329 seats in the Council of Representatives up for contest.

Al-Fatlawi urged veteran political figures to step aside. “The elderly in the political process should retire, with thanks for their previous efforts,” she said, framing the bloc’s campaign as part of a generational shift.

She also took aim at political rivals within the Shiite camp, claiming that some critics of the current government were sabotaging their own positions. “They are undermining the success of their own ministers,” she said, encouraging the Coordination Framework to embrace al-Sudani’s achievements in its campaign messaging.

Last week, Mohammed Al-Ukaili, another Reconstruction and Development candidate, predicted the list would win more than 100 seats—enough to lead the formation of Iraq’s next government.

Al-Fatlawi acknowledged that the bloc’s main competition is the State of Law coalition, led by former Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, noting that both groups are courting the same Shiite voter base. The State of Law coalition is part of the broader Coordination Framework alliance, which includes several Shiite parties currently in power.

Excerpts from Al-Fatlawi’s interview with Dijlah TV:

Al-Halbousi is not conspiring against the Shiites. Those who removed Al-Halbousi from the parliament speakership made a mistake.

It is time for the elderly in the political process to retire, with thanks for their previous efforts.

The Reconstruction and Development bloc will be the number one bloc among the Shiites, and possibly nationwide.

Those who criticize the government are undermining the success of their own ministers.

The Coordination Framework should use Al-Sudani’s successes in its election campaigns.

Reconstruction and Development is a political project, not just an electoral one.

Electoral size is important for legislating laws.

The competition between State of Law and Reconstruction and Development stems from targeting the same audience.

The strongest political conference doesn’t reach 2,000 attendees, while our conference gathered 15,000 in the stadium.

Our competitors focused on discrediting the Reconstruction and Development conference and forgot to promote their own.