The ‘retirement’ of Moqtada al-Sadr and its effect on Iraqi politics

Abstract

On 29 August 2022, the influential Iraqi party-leader Moqtada al-Sadr announced his withdrawal from politics via Twitter. He has done so many times before, however, and remained a central figure in the country’s political system. Six weeks after Sadr’s most recent announcement, a new Iraqi president took office, leaving Sadr with little ability to influence the current government. It is uncertain whether he will be content in this position or whether he will resort to street or electoral politics to transform the political system once more.