Today, Sunday, the Supreme Judicial Council in Iraq responded to the call of the leader of the Sadrist movement, Muqtada al-Sadr, to dissolve parliament, emphasizing that he does not have the authority in this regard, and that he proposed amending some articles of the constitution, amid a stifling political crisis in the country.

The council said - in a press statement today, Sunday - that "its tasks are related to the administration of the judiciary only, and it does not include any authority to interfere in the matters of the legislative or executive authorities, in application of the principle of separation between the three legislative, executive and judicial powers" contained in the constitution.

The Council called on "all political and media bodies not to involve the judiciary in political rivalries and competitions," stressing that "the judiciary stands at the same distance from everyone because the basis on which it rests is the application of the constitution and the law, and these are general rules."

At the same time, the Council agreed with al-Sadr regarding "diagnosing the negative political reality in the country and the ongoing constitutional violations represented in the incomplete formation of the constitutional authorities by electing a president and prime minister and forming a government within the constitutional periods."

The Supreme Judicial Council: We agree with #Mr.Muqtada_Al-Sadr in diagnosing the negative political reality in the country and the ongoing constitutional violations represented by the incomplete formation of the constitutional authorities by electing a President of the Republic and the Prime Minister and forming a government within the constitutional periods pic.twitter.com/inqaZ6twbr

- Iraqi Media Network (@iraqmedianet) August 14, 2022

Last Wednesday, al-Sadr called on the Iraqi judiciary to dissolve parliament before the end of the week "after the constitutional violations" represented in the expiry of the deadlines for choosing a president and prime minister, justifying his request that the political blocs would not bow to "the people's demand to dissolve parliament."

pic.twitter.com/Hy2wCmawpE

- Muqtada al-Sayyid Muhammad al-Sadr (@Mu_AlSadr) August 10, 2022

Article 64 of the Iraqi constitution stipulates that the Council of Representatives shall be dissolved “by an absolute majority of its members, at the request of one-third of its members, or a request from the Prime Minister and with the approval of the President of the Republic.”


When the House of Representatives is dissolved, the President of the Republic calls for general elections in the country within a maximum period of 60 days from the date of the dissolution.

A sit-in by supporters of the Sadrist movement in the vicinity of Parliament has entered its third week (Reuters)

Finger biting fight

Both the Sadrist movement and its opponents from the coordinating framework continue to press in the street with the deterioration of the situation between them, as al-Sadr supporters have been holding a sit-in since July 30 in the courtyards of the Iraqi parliament, while supporters of the coordinating framework have started a counter-sit-in in front of the walls of the Green Zone from the side of the suspension bridge since Two days.

Al-Sadr raised the level of pressure on his opponents yesterday, Saturday, by calling for a "million" demonstration in Baghdad, the date of which has not been set yet.

Saleh Muhammad al-Iraqi, who is close to Muqtada al-Sadr, said in a statement that "this demonstration is united by all provinces, and its goal is to support Iraq for reform and save the rest of it, so that you are not an easy prey to corruption, injustice, militias, dependency, and the whims of corrupt and authoritarian parties."

He added that "after the protest was divided into two camps", it became necessary to know which of the two camps was "more numerous and sympathetic to the Iraqi people."

Supporters of the coordination framework continue their sit-in at the suspension bridge leading to the Green Zone in central Baghdad (Reuters)

On the other hand, the sit-in of supporters of the coordination framework continues at the suspension bridge leading to the Green Zone (central Baghdad) to demand the speedy formation of a new government.

As part of this sit-in, tents were erected on Friday evening at the conclusion of a demonstration in which thousands participated. The coordinating framework said that the sit-in came “in defense of legitimacy”, in support of the Iraqi judiciary, and to demand the formation of a new government, and “an end to the suspension of work” of Parliament.

The organizing committee for the demonstrations by supporters of the framework called for an open sit-in until its demands are implemented, indicating that Iraq can only be managed through dialogue and understanding between all its people, and that no one party can confiscate the will of everyone under any pretext or pretext, as she put it.

On the other hand, and not far away, the sit-in of the Sadrist movement's supporters in the vicinity of Parliament entered its third week.

While the coordination framework calls for the resumption of parliament's work and the formation of a new government, the Sadrist movement calls for the dissolution of parliament and the holding of new elections.


Invitations to dialogue

On the other hand, a special source told Al-Jazeera that a delegation from the coordination framework is expected to arrive in the Kurdistan region today, Sunday.

According to the source, the delegation will visit Erbil and Sulaymaniyah, and will meet with the two Kurdistan Democratic Parties led by Massoud Barzani and the National Democratic Union led by Bafel Talabani.

Yesterday, Saturday, the Kurdistan Democratic Party expressed its deep concern about the political crisis in the country, and explained - in a statement - that agreeing to hold early elections is possible to achieve the process of reform and change, provided that this is preceded by a pledge by all participants to accept the final results in order to avoid a repetition of the experience of the past elections.

The party also called on all Iraqi leaders to engage in constructive dialogue to reform the situation in accordance with constitutional contexts.

For his part, the head of the victory coalition Haider al-Abadi said yesterday, Saturday, that the political process in Iraq must be characterized by values, based on rationality and realism, and aimed at serving the state and its citizens, adding that politicians must find solutions for the benefit of the people and the state.

It is noteworthy that the representatives of the Sadrist movement - which led the last parliamentary elections after obtaining 73 seats - recently withdrew from Parliament, which increased the chances of the coordination framework to form a new government.

The coordination framework parties say that the issue of dissolving parliament can only be discussed if it resumes its sessions.

After supporters of the Sadrist movement stormed the parliament building two weeks ago, Iraqi Parliament Speaker Muhammad al-Halbousi decided to stop the sessions until further notice.