The State of Law coalition has openly opposed Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani’s potential second term, citing serious concerns over government transparency. Moreover, the coalition emphasized that transparent governance is crucial for Iraq’s ruling Shiite bloc.
Al-Fatlawi criticized the partnership model proposed by Al-Sudani’s government under the Coordination Framework. He explained that the coalition doubts the model ensures fair representation for all political partners. Furthermore, he warned that the government has compromised government transparency, particularly regarding budget procedures. The coalition pointed out that the government has still not submitted budget tables to Parliament. Therefore, they called this a dangerous precedent. Additionally, Al-Fatlawi said a second term might result in no budget submission at all.
The spokesperson also highlighted diplomatic concerns. Specifically, Al-Fatlawi described Al-Sudani’s secretive meeting with Syrian President Ahmed Al-Sharaa in Qatar as a betrayal of trust. He added that government transparency requires all partners to stay informed about major diplomatic moves. While handling Syria-related issues is necessary, leaders must act openly and collectively.
In addition, Al-Fatlawi criticized Al-Sudani’s use of service projects for political gain. He noted that many members of the State of Law coalition defected to Al-Sudani’s bloc after seeing the advantage of using government resources for local projects. For instance, simple government approvals allowed street paving and electrical transformer installations in certain areas. Therefore, he argued that such actions compromise government transparency and undermine fair governance.
Moreover, the spokesperson challenged any member of Parliament to request details of project costs, saying they would likely receive no answer. This lack of openness reinforces the coalition’s stance against a second term. Al-Fatlawi concluded that government transparency, fair partnerships, and accountability must guide Iraq’s political decisions moving forward.
These comments underline a widening rift within Iraq’s Shiite political establishment. Analysts suggest that disputes over government transparency and secretive diplomacy could affect both the Coordination Framework’s cohesion and Iraq’s legislative process.
