Abdul Mahdi pressured into staying in office

The two biggest political blocs formed in Iraq after the 2018 parliamentary elections are pressuring Iraqi Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi to not resign, despite the protests that have gripped Iraq since the beginning of October.

Abdul Mahdi became prime minister after a consensus was reached between the Fatah Alliance, headed by Hadi al-Amiri, and the Sairoon Alliance, headed by Muqtada al-Sadr. Both alliances are linked to Iran, yet, since the Sairoon Alliance appears to take decisions independently from Iran, the latter's ability to pressure the bloc into working for its agenda in Iraq is limited.

Abdul Mahdi addressed the Iraqi people the morning of Oct. 4, yet the speech was broadcast three hours late. The delay was due to a “meeting that Abdul Mahdi was holding with the leaders of the political blocs,” according to sources close to Abdul Mahdi.

“Abdul Mahdi brought up his resignation plan during a meeting with the head of his political bureau and negotiator Abu Jihad al-Hachimi; the negotiator on behalf of Sairoon, Nassar al-Rubaiee; and leadership from other political parties," the sources said. "Yet Hachimi and Rubaiee refused Abdul Mahdi’s proposition.”