End to Iraq's political impasse 'unlikely' as Sadr calls for parliament dissolution

Neither Muqtada Al-Sadr nor his rivals in the pro-Iran Coordination Framework are ready to make concessions for each other or wait for a third party to mediate between them, Iraqi political observers have told The New Arab amid a deepening political crisis in the country.

"It is very difficult, if not impossible, to predict what will happen in Iraq, since everything could be reversed within moments via a tweet by Sadr, his rivals, or an interference by a foreign country," a source close to the Iraqi ruling elites told TNA on condition of anonymity.

"Neither Muqtada Al-Sadr nor his rivals in the pro-Iran Coordination Framework are ready to make concessions for each other or wait for a third party to mediate between them," the source said.

Sadr on Wednesday called on the judiciary to dissolve parliament by the end of next week. He urged his supporters to keep up a sit-in outside the Iraqi parliament and threatened "other reactions" if the judiciary does not fulfill his demand. 

The source told TNA that dissolution of parliament by the judiciary was unlikely.

"Eventually, I think the Iraqi judiciary will say dissolving the parliament is not within its powers, and the Coordination Framework will not accept Sadr’s demands, and will try to form a government for at least the next year and half.” 

Iraq, which has been without a new government since elections last October, has been grappling with further political turmoil after Sadr's supporters stormed parliament late last month.

The cleric's Shia rivals from the Coordination Framework, a coalition of influential pro-Iran factions, have conditionally accepted his call to dissolve parliament and hold new polls.

Former Iraqi prime minister Nouri Al-Maliki, a long-time Sadr foe and leader of a key faction in the Coordination Framework, called on Monday for the resumption of legislative sessions so that parliament might decide to dissolve itself and go to early elections or try to elect a president, the first step towards forming a new cabinet. 

Both sides have called for their supporters to take to the streets on Friday. 

According to the constitution, the legislature can only be dissolved through a vote passed by an absolute majority. A vote can be requested by a third of lawmakers, or by the prime minister with the president's approval.