Newspaper: differences hinder Abadi’s election alliance with PMF
Iraq Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi
Baghdad (IraqiNews.com) Differences are hampering an electoral alliance between Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi and the figures affiliated with the paramilitary forces that fought Islamic State on his side, a newspaper has reported.
Lebanese newspaper al-Akhbar said Saturday that disagreements are stonewalling efforts by Abadi’s nascent Al-Nasr (victory), an alliance of independent figures, to unite with al-Fatah (conquer), an alliance formed by the former commanders of member groups of the Popular Mobilization Forces.
According to the paper, the differences are centered around Abadi’s ranking in the sought alliance and the possibility of him maintaining the post of prime minister, which al-Fatah wants for Hadi al-Ameri, one of the PMF most senior commanders.
Al-Akhbar said prospects for the alliance have become weak despite a rumored Iranian desire for it. It said, however, that Abadi’s efforts to unite with PMF represent a retraction of his past rejection of the forces running the elections.
Iraqi parliament and local elections are slated for May 12th. Though the election commission had set last Thursday for closing the door for the registration of electoral alliances, it did not announce the closure officially.
Earlier, news reports told of Abadi’s breakaway from Daawa Party, a member of the State of the Law alliance led by Iraqi Vice President Nouri al-Maliki.