Iraq’s senior opposition leader, Shia cleric Muqtada Al-Sadr, called on Friday for a comprehensive change of the government headed by Haidar Al-Abadi just one week after a reshuffle, Anadolu has reported. Five ministers were moved in the cabinet overhaul.
In a statement seen by the Turkish media agency, Al-Sadr called for the formation of an independent technocrat government. He also wants politicians in office since the US invasion of 2003 to be charged with corruption.
“The desire of all the political parties in the country to maintain their political gains makes it almost impossible to carry out the reforms called for by Al-Abadi,” the Shia leader explained. He noted that none of the politicians appear to be ready to give up a few gains for the sake of the country or the people.
Abdul-Aziz Al-Zalmi, an MP with Al-Ahrar parliamentary bloc affiliated to Al-Sadr, said that the group is calling for “full change” in the government. “The current stage needs a technocrat government in order to be able to carry out its missions far from the effects of the political parties,” he told Anadolu.
The latest political crisis in Iraq came to the surface in March when the prime minister called for a technocrat government, but the stronger parties undermined this plan. Membership of the coalition is regarded as the “biggest challenge” for Al-Abadi to overcome.