"This is a call for an alliance that is non-sectarian and rejects ethnic politics in order to include all of the Iraqi people," al-Sadr said at a joint news conference with al-Abadi, who is still the prime minister until the new parliament sits on July 1 and elects his replacement. “This is a call for an alliance that is nonsectarian and rejects ethnic politics in order to include all of the Iraqi people,” Sadr said at a joint news conference with Abadi, who is still the Prime Minister until the new parliament sits on July 1 and elects his replacement. The joint statement did not mention an alliance al-Sadr formed earlier this month with the pro-Iranian former fighters under Hadi al-Amiri, whose list came second in the election with 47 seats. Political leaders in Iraq traditionally hold such meetings after elections as part of the lengthy and often complicated process of forming a coalition government, as no one party ever wins enough seats to form a government on its own.
After a meeting in Najaf, Islamic Dawa Party leader Premier Haider al-Abadi and Shi'a Sadrist Movement leader Muqtada al-Sadr announce their parties' alliance. Together, they control 96 of 329 seats in Parliament.