Reconstruction bloc figure backs Sudani, addresses regional dynamics

BAGHDAD — Abdul-Amir Taiban, a senior figure in the Reconstruction and Development Coalition, said the religious authority will play play no role in selecting Iraq’s next prime minister.

“I rule out any intervention or opinion from the religious authority in selecting the next prime minister or interference in political work,” Taiban said during an interview with Al-Rashid TV.

Iraqis voted for all 329 seats in the Council of Representatives on Nov. 11.

Addressing criticism of current Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani, Taiban rejected claims that he had deviated from the Coordination Framework. “Did Al-Sudani take a ministry from the Framework’s ministries? Did he go beyond the Framework and issue decisions without consulting them?” he asked, adding, “On the contrary, we were, are, and will remain under the Framework’s tent and among the first to implement its decisions.”

Preliminary results show the Reconstruction and Development Coalition led by Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani won 46 seats, the largest single share of any bloc, but no party or coalition secured a majority.

Taiban also criticized what he called double standards in how negotiations with perceived adversaries are viewed. Referring to regional actors, he said, “Is it permissible for Iran, Lebanon, and Hamas to negotiate with their enemies and the killers of their men, while we are forbidden from even expressing our opinion from afar to protect our interests and calm the region for the sake of our people?”

Excerpts from Abdul-Amir Taiban’s interview with Al-Rashid TV:

I rule out any intervention or opinion from the religious authority in selecting the next prime minister or interference in political work.

Is the martyr Qassem Soleimani Iranian or Iraqi? He is Iranian, and the Iranian government is negotiating with the United States.

Is Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah Lebanese or Iraqi? And the Lebanese government is negotiating with the Zionist entity over South Lebanon.

Is Hamas an Arab Palestinian movement or not? And it is negotiating with the Zionist entity, the killers of Hamas leaders.

So is it permissible for Iran, Lebanon, and Hamas to negotiate with their enemies and the killers of their men, while we are forbidden from even expressing our opinion from afar to protect our interests and calm the region for the sake of our people?

I ask: how did Mr. Al-Sudani rebel against the Coordination Framework? Did Al-Sudani take a ministry from the Framework’s ministries? Did he take one of their agencies and place his associate in it? Did he go beyond the Framework and issue decisions without consulting them? Did he skip Framework meetings and say: I will not attend? On the contrary, we were, are, and will remain under the Framework’s tent and among the first to implement its decisions.

We want the Framework to establish a “just” internal system. I ask, why did the Dawa Party take the premiership three times, while today, Reconstruction and development Coalition has 47 seats and is not granted the prime minister position?