Sadr is paving the way for pro-Iranian parties to increase their seats in the Council of Representatives.
73 lawmakers from Shia cleric Muqtada al Sadr’s bloc have submitted their resignation upon the leader's request as Iraq's new parliament continues in its struggle to form a government.
Shia cleric Muqtada al Sadr asks his followers not to interfere as his rivals form a coalition of Iran-backed Shia parties, trying to cobble together a cabinet.
The positive rebranding of Muqtada al Sadr by international media and experts serves to entrench the broken post-2003 Iraqi political order, not fix it.
Iran-backed militias are in a relatively weakened state, but will try anything to avoid being left out of the government.
Iraq's parliament session resumed after an earlier disruption, as 200 lawmakers picked incumbent Parliament Speaker Mohamed al Halbousi for a second term.
No group has claimed responsibility for the drones attack launched at Prime Minister Mustafa al Kadhimi's Baghdad residence, where he escaped unhurt.
Without Muqtada al Sadr, Iraq's kingmaker, no coalition government can be formed, experts say. And if it is formed, Sunni bloc’s Halbousi and Kurdish leader Barzani are likely to be in the new government.
Iran-backed groups have lost significant ground in Iraq but Tehran still has some supporters to help it keep its influence over the neighbouring country.
Moqtada al Sadr's party is the biggest winner in the Iraqi election, increasing the number of seats the Muslim cleric holds in parliament, according to initial results, officials, and a spokesperson for the Sadrist Movement.
With a little confidence in the country's political system, many ordinary Iraqis are likely to stay away from the ballot box while Shia-led parties like Muqtada al Sadr’s group are expected to dominate next month’s polls.
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