Iraqi Prime Minister Al Sudani: "Construction and Development" Coalition is Open to All for Forming New Government

In the midst of Iraq's evolving political landscape, Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia' al-Sudani announced a pivotal stance regarding the next phase of government formation. In a statement on Wednesday, Al Sudani affirmed that his victorious coalition, the "Construction and Development" (الإعمار والتنمية) alliance, is adopting an "open to all" approach to ensure the formation of a new national government capable of moving the country forward.

Al Sudani's statement coincided with the announcement of the preliminary, non-final results of the legislative elections by the Independent High Electoral Commission (IHEC) of Iraq. On Wednesday evening, the IHEC revealed a significant and substantial lead achieved by the "Construction and Development" coalition, led by Al Sudani. The alliance secured 1,317,346 votes across 12 out of 18 Iraqi provinces, claiming the first rank in the announced results.

In a televised address to the nation following the announcement of these preliminary election results, Prime Minister Mohammed Shia' al-Sudani delivered strong messages advocating for national unity and respect for the democratic process. Al Sudani congratulated his coalition's supporters on the victory, stating: "I congratulate the masses of the Construction and Development alliance on winning the first rank in the election results." However, he swiftly asserted that the coalition's mission transcends its narrow electoral base, emphasizing that they "will work to achieve the will and interest of all the people, including those who boycotted, because Iraq is for everyone."

Al Sudani also called for turning the page on electoral competition and focusing on the higher objective, stressing: "The electoral competition has ended, and I call upon everyone to place the national interest above all to serve the Iraqis."

The Prime Minister outlined the priorities for the upcoming phase, noting that it "aims to crystallize a new government capable of representing the programs." He categorically affirmed the "Construction and Development" alliance's commitment to inclusivity, stating: "Construction and Development is open to all parties without exception," concluding his assertion by reiterating: "We are open to everyone to form the new Iraqi government."

It is noteworthy that the total number of voters who participated in the general and special (for security and military forces) polling days reached 12,009,453 voters, out of 21,404,281 eligible voters, according to the IHEC statistics.