News & Events
INTERVIEW: Iraqi Shiite cleric takes surprise lead in Iraq’s parliamentary elections
By Zaid Al-Ali, May 15, 2018
AUSTRALIAN BROADCASTING CORPORATION: A Shia nationalist cleric in Iraq who led two uprisings against American troops has taken a surprise lead in parliamentary elections results.
Shiite cleric Muqtada Al-Sadr appears to have tapped into public resentment with Iran and what some voters say is a corrupt political elite it supports.
Muqtada Al-Sadr fronts the al-Sairoon Coalition, or the Marchers — an alliance of his Sadrist Movement and the Iraqi Communist Party.
He didn’t run as a candidate in the election but he will be influential in choosing the choose Iraq’s next prime minister.
It’s a significant blow to the re-election campaign of Prime Minister Haider Al-Abadi who had Washington’s backing.