Iraqi firebrand political figure Muqtada al-Sadr is set to be announced the surprise winner of the country's elections and prepared for his new status as government titan by making a call for national unity.
With Sadr's Alliance of Revolutionaries for Reform coalition [Saairun] in the lead as 16 of Iraq's 18 provinces are counted, it now appears the Shia cleric will become Iraq's main powerbroker.
Counting is still ongoing but Sadr's coalition - which is dominated by the Sadrist Movement and the Iraqi Communist Party - is believed to have won at least 54 of the 329-seat parliament, making it the largest political forces in the country, according to Al Jazeera.
This would be a blow for the US-backed Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi's al-Nasr bloc, along with former premier Nouri al-Maliki's State of Law alliance and the Iranian-backed, semi-political wing of the Hashd al-Shaabi militias called al-Fatah.
Sadr made a witty suggestion on Twitter as to who might be included in a future ruling coalition.
"We are Sayirun (Marching) with Hikma (Wisdom) and al-Wataniya (Patriotism) so that the Iradah (Will) of the people be our aim and to build Jilan Jadidan (a New Generation) and to witness Taghir (Gorran/Change) to the better and for the al-Qarar (Decision) to be Iraqi," the tweet read, according to Rudaw, punning on the political party names in Iraq.
"So we raise the Bayariq (Banners) of al-Nasr (Victory), and let Baghdad, the capital, be Hawiyatuna (Baghdad Is Our Identity) and for our Hirakuna (Movement) Democratic (possibly KDP) towards the formation of a paternal government from technocratic Kawadur (Cadres) without partisanship."
Among those mentioned were the Shia National Wisdom Movement [Hikma], Sunni al-Wataniya coalition, and Kurdish Gorran Party.
Shia militia alliance al-Fatah are expected to come second, while Abadi's party should come third.
Sadr has portrayed himself as an anti-sectarian, anti-corruption and Iraqi nationalist candidate with no ambitions for political office.
He has also said he opposes foreign intervention in Iraq, including from Baghdad's neighbour Iran which has become a major power in the country since the 2003 US-led invasion.
With Sadr's Alliance of Revolutionaries for Reform coalition [Saairun] in the lead as 16 of Iraq's 18 provinces are counted, it now appears the Shia cleric will become Iraq's main powerbroker.
Counting is still ongoing but Sadr's coalition - which is dominated by the Sadrist Movement and the Iraqi Communist Party - is believed to have won at least 54 of the 329-seat parliament, making it the largest political forces in the country, according to Al Jazeera.
This would be a blow for the US-backed Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi's al-Nasr bloc, along with former premier Nouri al-Maliki's State of Law alliance and the Iranian-backed, semi-political wing of the Hashd al-Shaabi militias called al-Fatah.
Sadr made a witty suggestion on Twitter as to who might be included in a future ruling coalition.
"We are Sayirun (Marching) with Hikma (Wisdom) and al-Wataniya (Patriotism) so that the Iradah (Will) of the people be our aim and to build Jilan Jadidan (a New Generation) and to witness Taghir (Gorran/Change) to the better and for the al-Qarar (Decision) to be Iraqi," the tweet read, according to Rudaw, punning on the political party names in Iraq.
"So we raise the Bayariq (Banners) of al-Nasr (Victory), and let Baghdad, the capital, be Hawiyatuna (Baghdad Is Our Identity) and for our Hirakuna (Movement) Democratic (possibly KDP) towards the formation of a paternal government from technocratic Kawadur (Cadres) without partisanship."
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Among those mentioned were the Shia National Wisdom Movement [Hikma], Sunni al-Wataniya coalition, and Kurdish Gorran Party.
Shia militia alliance al-Fatah are expected to come second, while Abadi's party should come third.
Sadr has portrayed himself as an anti-sectarian, anti-corruption and Iraqi nationalist candidate with no ambitions for political office.
He has also said he opposes foreign intervention in Iraq, including from Baghdad's neighbour Iran which has become a major power in the country since the 2003 US-led invasion.
During those years Sadr's militias fought US military forces and remains a staunch opponent of Washington.
He has moved closer to his former regional adversary Saudi Arabia and viewed by some as a more conciliatory candidate to Iraq's Sunni population, although many still fear the firebrand cleric.
Abadi's coalition could be another contender in Sadr's coalition.
He has moved closer to his former regional adversary Saudi Arabia and viewed by some as a more conciliatory candidate to Iraq's Sunni population, although many still fear the firebrand cleric.
Abadi's coalition could be another contender in Sadr's coalition.