
ISHM: JUNE 16 – 30, 2022
Key Takeaways: Parliament Swears In 64 New MPs; Coordination Framework Divided Over Government Formation; Kadhimi Visits Saudi Arabia And Iran – On June 23, Iraq’s Parliament convened an extraordinary session in which 64 new MPs were sworn to replace MPs loyal to Muqtada al-Sadr who had resigned on June 12. On June 24, Asaib Ahl al-Haq leader, Qais al-Khazali, said it was difficult to form a stable government without the Sadrists, and called for “a political agreement on redoing the elections” under a new law and electoral commission. Khazali’s position is at odds with that of Nouri al-Maliki, who wants to take the lead on government formation regardless of Sadr’s participation. Press reports say Maliki has a strong interest in becoming PM again and believes that the risks of excluding Sadr are exaggerated. On June 25 and 26, PM Kadhimi visited Saudi Arabia and Iran, where he met with Crown