Ammar al-Hakim, Haider al-Abadi separate ahead of Iraqi elections



ERBIL, Kurdistan Region — Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi who is heading the Nasr coalition, and the Wisdom Movement headed by Ammar al-Hakim, announced their split in a joint statement ahead of May elections.

Both sides emphasized “the continued assistance and bolstering bilateral relations, working to lay the groundwork for a free and fair election and securing a calm environment for the voters.”

Abadi and Hakim stressed they would do their utmost to make the elections process succeed.

They agreed to reunite after the elections, within the framework of a broader coalition to form a government.

Hakim splitting from Abadi’s Nasr coalition marked the second such break away after a group of the Shiite-controlled Hashd al-Shaabi named Fatih coalition withdrew from his coalition in mid-January.


“Due to some unwanted people joining the coalition of Nasr, we decided as the coalition of Fatih to withdraw,” Karim Nuri, a Fatih spokesperson and high-ranking Hashd official, had told Rudaw at the time.

Abadi’s coalition initially had formed a trilateral alliance with the Fatih coalition and Hakim’s Wisdom Movement in early-January.

Abadi formed Nasr after splitting from fellow Dawa Party member Nouri al-Maliki, who has registered to run under his State of Law coalition.

Maliki preceded Abadi as prime minister from 2006 to 2014 is currently one of three vice presidents in Iraq.

Iraqi elections are set to be held on May 12.

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