An October 10 election didn’t leave any obvious path to a majority government in Iraq, but the delays and stalemates that have resulted are starting to raise tensions and risk new intra-Shi’ite conflicts.
The Sadrist Trend won the plurality in October, for whatever good it does them. They’ve got allies among Sunni Arabs and Kurds as a path for trying to form a coalition, but that’s been resisted by a rival Shi’ite group, the State of Law, effectively blocking the Sadrist coalition and trying to force a unity deal.
Sadr is ruling out that idea, saying that he absolutely will not allow a return to a “consensus” government. Both sides say they won’t accept the other side’s position forever.
Sadr argues that the public, which voted for his bloc on a promise of independence, wouldn’t accept another corrupt consensus deal. The State of Law is aligned with a number of militias, and Iran, and is warning they are holding out for a seat at the table.
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