Baghdad: Head of the Wataniya Coalition, Ayad Allawi, called on Saturday for the convening of an expanded national conference involving political and civil forces. A statement by the Coalition noted that “the Al-Wataniya Coalition held an expanded meeting chaired by Ayad Allawi and attended by the coalition’s leadership and members. During the meeting, they discussed the latest developments in the political landscape, the challenges facing Iraq, and ways to enhance stability while preserving the country’s unity and sovereignty.”

According to National Iraqi News Agency, the statement explained that “during the meeting, Allawi proposed a comprehensive national initiative to address political crises. This initiative includes a call for an expanded national conference involving political, national, and civil forces, as well as social figures and prominent Iraqi personalities, with the attendance of representatives from the United Nations and the Arab League.”

The statement further detailed that “Allawi emphasized that the initiative stems from a shared national responsibility and aims to correct the course of the political process, build a state based on citizenship, institutions, and the rule of law, and place the interests of Iraq and its people above partisan, factional, and personal interests.”

In addition, the statement outlined that “the initiative also includes the formation of a national dialogue body, a review of constitutional articles and the electoral system, the strengthening of Iraq’s independent decision-making, and the consolidation of balanced relations with countries in the region and the world.”

Allawi noted that “the initiative emphasized the need to end political and partisan quota-based systems, combat corruption, protect public funds, and empower qualified individuals to manage state institutions, as well as to restrict the possession of arms to the state and unify military and security command and decision-making within a clear legal framework.”