Hakim calls for return of Iraq's National Alliance

Citizen’s Coalition leader Ammar al-Hakim explicitly called for the reshaping of the National Alliance based on new grounds on April 30, after the presidential elections. Despite the fact that Hakim called for the formation of a strong and homogeneous government, he, just like other key Shiite leaders, is still adamant that the National Alliance, which includes the main Shiite forces, be the general framework and foundation of the next Iraqi government. This is despite the fact that, with the acknowledgment of its members, this alliance did not assume any pivotal role in Iraqi political life in 2010 except for the nomination of the prime minister.

According to unanimous leaks and unofficial sources, three main Shiite forces have swept the latest Iraqi elections, whose results have yet to be officially announced once the ballot count is finalized. These forces include Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki’s State of Law Coalition, which according to sources likely received the most votes; the Citizen Coalition led by Ammar al-Hakim, which appears to have made huge progress in terms of seats gained compared to the 2010 elections (when it won 16 seats); and the Sadrist Movement, which is expected to show a significant decline in seats compared to the past elections (when it won 40 seats), while retaining a significant political presence.

On the sidelines of this tripartite map, other forces, figures and movements — such as the Badr Organization, the Fadila Party and the National Reform Movement — are generally considered allies of Maliki. However, they might change their alliance and back Hakim and Muqtada al-Sadr based on changing equations.

Far from the unconfirmed figures that were leaked, the movements of Sadr and Hakim have been clearly trying, since the provincial elections in 2013, to find a balance among the Shiite forces’ alliance to face Maliki’s rise that is happening at their expense in the Shiite street.