Sheikh Khazali comments on the success of the local elections in Kirkuk and the role of Al-Sadiqoon in forming the government … He considered it an important achievement.

The General Secretary of the Asa’ib Ahl al-Haq, His Eminence Sheikh Qais al-Khazali, today (Friday) considered the holding of local elections in Kirkuk an important achievement, and while he stressed that the democratic process is committed to respecting the results of the elections, he indicated that more than one Iraqi governorate did not participate in all its components in forming their governments.
Sheikh Khazali said during a televised interview that Kirkuk is an exceptional case because the law stipulates that all components participate in the formation of its government, and all the parties that formed the current Kirkuk government were keen to involve the components.
His Eminence stated that the Arab and Kurdish components left spaces in the positions that fall within the Turkmen entitlement, especially since the First Deputy Governor of Kirkuk and the Deputy Chairman of the Provincial Council were given to the Turkmen component.
His Eminence explained that whoever owns half plus one in any governorate is the one who has the right to form the local government, and there was no surprise in the formation of the Kirkuk local government, especially since the negotiations between the parties on forming the Kirkuk government took nearly two months and did not take place. There was no intention to exclude any party from forming the Kirkuk government, including the Democrats and the Sunnis.
Sheikh Khazali pointed out that both Kurdish fronts were convinced that the position of Kirkuk governor would be rotated, and the difference was over who should hold the position of governor of Kirkuk to the National Union or the Democratic Union, indicating that most parties, including the prime minister, were in favor of the union getting the governor of Kirkuk, because it was not It is correct to ignore the National Union in Kirkuk because it has a clear majority.
His Eminence revealed that the entry of the Asaib Ahl al-Haq movement, to sponsor the agreement to form the Kirkuk government, was at the request of the Arab party, since our clear and explicit doctrine is to recognize the Iraqiness of Kirkuk and our entry was a guarantor party, and we heard a clear and frank answer in the presence of the Arab party that the union is committed to the Iraqiness of Kirkuk.
His Eminence pointed out that the Democratic Party is not ready to recognize the Iraqiness of Kirkuk, and we have not heard that from it, and that some parties believe that Kirkuk is not Iraqi and is part of the Kurdistan region, but the National Union has committed itself and clearly recognized before us the Iraqiness of Kirkuk.
His Eminence continued, “We are allies with the National Union and it is natural that we would help him if he asked us, and he asked us to be a guarantor party in the formation of the Kirkuk government, and we did not come for any spoils or gain,” while he stressed that the Prime Minister tried to remain at the same distance from everyone in forming a government Kirkuk.
His Eminence denied that the Islamic Republic had Iranian citizens in Kirkuk to interfere directly, and I was keen that the result of the formation of the Kirkuk government not be the imposition of a will because the issue of Kirkuk and its regional interactions and connections are unfortunately known and clear.
His Eminence explained that the Turkmen hold two seats out of 16 in Kirkuk, which does not qualify them for the position of governor. I answered an indirect question from a Turk by agreeing to the Turkmen holding the position of governor for one year, and there was a Turkish-Turkmen demand that the Turkmen be included in the rotation of the position of governor of Kirkuk.
His Eminence pointed out that Turkey considers itself the country with the most presence and influence in Kirkuk with the presence of the Turkmen, and the Turkish party was refusing to assign the position of Governor of Kirkuk to the National Union at all.
His Eminence also revealed the presence of Arab parties that made it clear to the Turkmen that they could obtain the position of governor, stressing that if the other party had obtained the position of governor of Kirkuk, a crisis and civil war would have resulted.
His Eminence believed that whoever objects to the formation of the Kirkuk government can submit that to the Federal Court or the State Council, ruling out the occurrence of a crisis or civil war against the backdrop of the formation of the local government in Kirkuk.
His Eminence noted that there was an unjust media campaign directed by some Arabs against other Arabs regarding the formation of the Kirkuk government, pointing out that whoever made the accusations of treason agreed that the governor of Kirkuk in the first term would be a Kurd from the Democratic Party.
His Eminence continued, “The Kurds believe that the first term of the Kirkuk governor is better for them because it is linked to the region’s elections, and we are a guarantor party as Sadiqoon or Asa’ib and we bear the responsibility in forming the Kirkuk government. However, the Arabs see that the second term of the Kirkuk governor is better for them because it is linked to the general elections”.