London, Asharq Al-Awsat- A leader in the Islamic Al-Da’wah Party, headed by current Iraqi Prime Minister Ibrahim al-Jaafari, has affirmed that that Al-Jaafari is adamant on keeping his nomination to the post of head of the new government. He said that the Unified Iraqi Coalition led by Abdulaziz al-Hakim, is “insisting on keeping its candidate for this position.”
An independent prominent member of the Coalition told Asharq al-Awsat yesterday that he heard Al-Jaafari say he “believes that this nomination is legitimate and that God and the people have chosen him for this position.”
Dr. Khudayr Abbas Hadi, head of the prime minister’s office and leader in the Al-Da’wah Party who is close to Al-Jaafari, told Asharq al-Awsat by telephone, that “The Coalition, until this moment, has not nominated anyone other than its legitimate candidate, Al-Jaafari.” He affirmed, “Al-Jaafari respects the will of the people, and the people have decided that he should be the prime minister. If he (Al-Jaafari) gives up this nomination, this means that he is undermining the will of the people, and he will not take such a step.”
Regarding the statement made to Asharq al-Awsat, citing Al-Jaafari that “God and the people have chosen him for this position,” Hadi said, “I have not heard him make this remark exactly, but I know that Al-Jaafari has emphasized his respect for the people’s choice and that he supports the decision of the Iraqi people.” He added, “Since the Iraqi people have decided that Al-Jaafari should fill up this position, he supports this decision.”
The leader in the Al-Da’wah Party added, “Since Al-Jaafari was chosen by the Coalition in a democratic way, he respects this decision. He is responding to the demand of the people. A politician must respect the choice of the people and fulfill their demand to achieve their wish. Therefore, he is not thinking of withdrawing at all, and his position is strong.” Hadi affirmed, “The (supreme Shiite) marja’iyah has asked the Coalition to remain firm. We know what it means for Sayyid (Ali) Al-Sistani to say that the Coalition must remain firm. He means that its decisions must not be like a particle of dust in the open air, and that it must uphold its choices and decisions.”
He stressed, “Al-Jaafari has no intention to withdraw, and this is not a part of his personality.” A member in the Unified Iraqi coalition told Asharq al-Awsat yesterday, “I met with Al-Jaafari to discuss the real crisis facing the Coalition because of the opposition of the other lists to his nomination for the position of head of the next government. I wanted to find out whether he intends to withdraw his nomination to resolve the crisis. However, I discovered that he was strongly determined and insisting on maintaining this nomination despite everything.”
The member of the Coalition who talked to Asharq al-Awsat by telephone and preferred not to reveal his name added, “He told me that God and the people have chosen me for this position.” He said, “We know Al-Jaafari. If he sticks to a position, he will not easily move from it. If 50 Iraqis now demanded keeping his nomination, he would say look all the Iraqis want me. If millions demanded his resignation, he (Al-Jaafari) would say that the United States had incited them against me.”