ERBIL, Kurdistan Region — Included in firebrand Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr's top conditions for the next prime minister of Iraq was not having dual citizenship, being bilingual, and not being permitted to run in future elections.
Sadr, the top vote-getter in the parliamentary election on May 12, issued a list of 40 pre-conditions on Tuesday for the next PM.
Sadr began his letter by saying that everyone needs to "stand seriously and carefully" to help Iraq transcend its current "hard and critical" political challenges.
"Especially after we came a long way in the process of political and social reform, adopted by us to this day," read a hand-written letter released by his office.
Southern predominately Shiite cities have been engulfed in protests since July 9. The demonstrators are demanding jobs, better services, and less corruption.
Sadr said many political figures have changed and many of the "corrupt" are being put on trial, adding that the "protesting soul" has been implanted in Iraqis as evident by them taking it to the streets to demand their rights.
Sadr campaigned on an anti-corruption platform and partnered with the Communist Party of Iraq.
"We shouldn't return to any type of sectarian alliances, and to remain under the national framework, which will make everyone partners in building a homeland," Sadr added in his letter.
"That is why I will boycott any alliance or any governmental program that isn't under the national framework," he explained.
Sadr won 54 seats in the election. The top four lists were led by Shiite politicians; however, Sadr has been unable to garner to 165 seats to form a government.
He revealed 40 pre-conditions, describing them as "basics ... that could become a declaration for alliance."
They included, but weren't limited to:
1 - To be independent and outside of the parliament
2 - Not to have dual citizenship
3 - To be acceptable on the national level and to be known for his patriotic stances
4 - To have total jurisdiction in his work without party interference
5 - Not to run for future elections
6 - Not work based on ethnic, sectarian, national or party lines
7 - Not to cave into external pressures which violate Iraqi sovereignty
8 - To have a good reputation and speak more than one language
9 - To be just and not use brute force against any side
10 - To strive to end party interference in the government joints
