Ammar al-Hakim, head of the National Wisdom Movement, said Aug. 12 that efforts aimed at forming an opposition front would produce a “shadow government.” This comes after the concept of parliamentary opposition remained absent during the terms of three parliaments due to consensual multiparty democracy and the domination of the same parties for more than 10 years.

Baligh Abu Kalal, a top member of the National Wisdom Movement, told Al-Monitor, “The aim of the shadow government is to consolidate democracy with both pro-government and opposition camps and to offer an alternative to the current government through figures representing the opposition who diagnose the errors of the government and provide solutions and remedies.”

Abu Kalal said, “The shadow government will form committees to meet with some or all government ministries at the beginning in order to better evaluate and motivate performance.”

Abu Kalal responded to critics by saying, “Our opposition and the shadow government do not use extortion, nor are we seeking gain from our positions. Our opposition emanates from a disagreement about the approach adopted in key areas — some of which are political and others executive concerning fundamental issues, such as Iraq's stance on regional conflicts, fighting corruption, restricting the use of arms to the state, creating job opportunities and improving the economy and services — so we have abandoned all privileges and positions as a result of disagreement.”