Political leaders stand together for a group photo outside a residence during a meeting of Sunni party heads in Baghdad.
Sunni parties form unified bloc as counterpart to Shia Coordination Framework
BAGHDAD — Major Sunni political parties on Sunday announced the formation of the National Political Council, a joint bloc they say will coordinate positions across the sixth parliamentary cycle and serve as a unified counterpart to the Shia Coordination Framework, which leads the current government under Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani.
The new council brings together Taqaddum Party, Azm Party, the Sovereignty Alliance, the National Hasm Alliance and the Jamaheer Party. Leaders of the groups met at the Baghdad home of Sovereignty Alliance head Khamis al-Khanjar, where they said the body is intended to unify decisions, strengthen coordination and improve political leverage.
In the Nov. 11 parliamentary elections, the five parties secured a combined 59 seats, including 27 for Taqaddum, 15 for Azm, 9 for the Sovereignty Alliance, 5 for the National Hasm Alliance and 3 for Jamaheer.
In a statement, the parties said the meeting was held “out of national responsibility, and in recognition of the challenges facing the country at this crucial stage.” They said leaders reviewed political developments affecting Iraq and their governorates, stressing the need for a shared vision “to preserve political and social stability, ensure constitutional rights and strengthen representation in state institutions.”
They described the National Political Council as “the umbrella that coordinates positions and unifies visions and decisions on major national files,” adding that it will hold regular meetings throughout the parliamentary term and remain open to “all national partners.”
Al-Khanjar said in a press conference that “the winning Sunni blocs met today,” adding that the groups held “a deep dialogue to set a roadmap for the next stage, ensuring stability and speeding up the selection of the presidencies in preparation for the birth of a strong Iraqi government that represents all components of the Iraqi people.”
He said a final statement will be issued after discussions conclude and noted that a “comprehensive plan” is being developed to bridge differences and agree on standards for government formation. He added that coordination is ongoing “with all parties, including the Kurdistan Region,” to accelerate talks and overcome obstacles.