“They have the right to government representation and assuming their leadership role in drawing its future,” Abdul-Mahdi’s media office stated in a readout.
He visited Turkmen Front headquarters in Baghdad meeting with party head Arshad Salihi.
Abdul-Mahdi thanked the “warm welcome” adding Turkmen have been historically ingrained in Iraq for centuries.
“PM Adel Abdul-Mahdi stressed that the Turkmen are an authentic component in the body of Iraqi society and we cherish them and will work hard to serve our people in all governorates with their various components,” he said.
Mahdi praised the Turkmen unity among the different Turkmen parties, urging such connections can be preserved to work united “with a clear strategy transcending sectarianism.”
The Turkmen Front won 3 seats in the parliamentary election — most among Turkmen parties and one more than in 2013.
Salihi wished Abdul-Mahdi success despite the tough choices he faces in forming the next government.
“The Turkmen will be his backers in this task and in this critical circumstance our country is faring through,” added the readout from Abdul-Mahdi’s office.
The Turkmen have played a historical role in Iraq and were active against the previous Baath regime, explained Salihi.
“The Turkmen people aspire to participate in the next government in in sovereign positions. This is the constitutional right of the third components in Iraq,” he said.
Abdul-Mahdi has 30 days from October 2 to name the next Iraqi cabinet
