It is headed by al-Halbousi, al-Khanjar and al-Najafi .. These are the most prominent Sunni alliances in the Iraqi elections

Sunni parties and forces in Iraq will run in the early parliamentary elections scheduled for next October 10, with 3 main political alliances, which resulted in negotiations and dialogues that took place between the various parties during the last period.

The most prominent of the Sunni alliances that were formed are the “Al-Azm” coalition headed by the head of the Arab Project, Khamis Al-Khanjar, and with the participation of dignitaries. Such as Salim al-Jubouri, Khaled al-Obeidi, and Jamal al-Karbouli (recently arrested on suspicion of corruption). Read also 27 alliances including 235 political parties in the Iraqi election marathon … and these are the most prominent There are only two options for Al-Kazemi .. What is the truth about secret changes in the election commission in Iraq? And for whose interest?Le Monde: That is why the grip of the Shiite factions in Iraq is growing

Meanwhile, the Speaker of Parliament, Muhammad al-Halbousi, intends to run in the elections through the “Progress” coalition, which he established during the last period. The third coalition stands out under the name of “The National Salvation Project”, which is headed by Usama Al-Nujaifi, with the participation of other political figures from Nineveh Governorate; The most prominent of them is Khaled Sultan, son of Sultan Hashem, the defense minister during the era of the late President Saddam Hussein.

Objections and criticisms

These alliances faced objections and criticism because of the failure to form a single main coalition, as happened in most of the previous elections, as well as their ineffectiveness and the speed of their disintegration after the formation of the government.

However, the former deputy and a leader in the Azm Alliance, Muhammad Nuri, said that the political reality in the country imposes such alliances, due to the divergence of opinions and the disagreement of views. Therefore, the personalities and parties are allied with those who agree with them in visions and solving the problems that plague the areas that were recaptured from ISIS.

Nuri added, to Al-Jazeera Net, that the new alliance aims to establish a kind of centralization in Sunni alliances, and to restore the symbolism that we lost during the previous period, due to the prevalence of the concept of generational displacement, which occurred only when the Sunnis, and this is what we will face when senior political leaders have a role in Political process, and contribute to decision-making

Leader Nouri believes that there are a number of issues that need correction. Such as parliamentary diplomacy, balance in relations, as well as unresolved domestic issues.

These alliances depend on a wide audience in the governorates in which they are formed, as the “Progress” coalition led by Parliament Speaker Muhammad al-Halbousi has a popular base that he built during the last period, while the “National Salvation Project” coalition headed by Osama al-Nujaifi relies on its audience in Mosul, especially the security elements. In the Nineveh Guard, formed by the former Governor of Nineveh, Athil al-Nujaifi, as well as clan and youth groups.

And the new coalition, “Al-Azm”, led by Al-Khanjar, relied on figures from the first row that he had attracted within its ranks. Such as Muthanna al-Samarrai, Ahmed al-Jarba, Salim al-Jabouri, Khaled al-Ubaydi, Muhammad al-Karbouli, and others.

Tactical alliances

The expert on Iraqi affairs, Dr. Yahya Al-Kubaisi, believes that the Sunni alliances are tactical electoral alliances, the basis of which is funding on the one hand, and the relationship with the authority and state institutions on the other hand. But it ends when the election results are announced, to join the party that will get the presidency of the Council of Representatives and monopolize the Sunni decision.

Al-Kubaisi added in a statement to Al-Jazeera Net, that the two main variables in the Sunni scene during these elections are the end of Iyad Allawi’s Sunni lists forever, with the increasing presence of the Shiite factions’ weapons and their influence on the elections more than it was in 2018.

The “determination” Al-Walid coalition suffered a blow in its first days of founding, as the government anti-corruption committee arrested its leader, Jamal Al-Karbouli, which raised suspicions that opposing political parties were behind this, especially Al-Halbousi’s coalition, and influencing the committee’s decision.

In turn, the deputy and the leader of the “Progress” coalition, Zafer Al-Ani, denied that his coalition was behind the arrest of Karbouli, or pushed for that, indicating that the issue is purely judicial, and the “resolve” coalition is a large political force that can defend its members, and we cannot start the election season with such a thing. .

Al-Ani added, to Al-Jazeera Net, that the alliances that are formed before the elections are often disrupted after the formation of the government, and the parties return to their normal state, pointing out that the issue of establishing a single alliance for the Sunni blocs is not possible, as this is the context of the political process in Iraq, as the Kurds were unable to join. Under one alliance, nor the Shiite blocs, and this is due to the difference in viewpoints, in addition to the fact that the new election law did not give much impetus to form alliances.

The leadership struggle

The Sunni Arabs have represented 71 representatives since the 2018 elections, up from 90 in the previous legislative session (2014-2018).

For his part, political analyst Kazem Yawar believes that the Sunni alliances are mostly due to the leadership struggle, as most of the leading figures want to lead the Sunni situation. To obtain a high Sunni position in the political scene, and this is what caused the existence of more than one main coalition, as well as the existence of other lists. Advertising

Yawer added, to Al-Jazeera Net, that the new election law pushed the candidates to rely on themselves without benefiting from the votes of others, as happened during the previous elections, which reduced the issue of leading the blocs and the tendency towards leadership. Unfortunately, this remains the case with the Sunni blocs, which reveals the remoteness of these leaders from the grassroots and the psyche of the Iraqi voter.

The Sunni arena was not limited to establishing the three alliances, as the Iraqi Islamic Party chose to renew its alliance with the “National Contract” bloc, which is a mini-coalition led by the head of the Popular Mobilization Authority, Faleh al-Fayyad, and with the recent participation of the former governor of Nineveh, Mansour al-Muraid, in addition to political figures from Nineveh Governorate, they have tribal mobs.

The head of the National Mass Party, Ahmad al-Jubouri (Abu Mazen), after leaving the “Progress” coalition, is still turning his cards to attract political figures in his area of ​​influence, which is Salah al-Din Governorate, which witnessed the entry of the politician and businessman Mamoul al-Samarrai, where he attracted a number of Candidates in various districts of the province.

Electoral experts say that the new election law represents an opportunity for the components to regain their strength, provided that they organize and choose their candidates well. But others believe that the conditions that the Sunni governorates are going through, the delay in reconstruction programs, and the return of displaced persons may negatively affect participation in the elections.