Member of the Supreme Authority of the Yemeni Islah Party, head of the Parliamentary Bloc, MP Abdul Razzaq Al-Hijri, said that the Islah Party welcomes all political forces that believe in the project to restore the state in order to engage in dialogue and reconciliation.

During his talk in the Yemen Brief Podcast about the Yemeni Political Parties and the Islah Party, held in the Dutch city of Hague, al-Hijri explained that the Houthi militia was able to overthrow the state as a result of the differences between the political forces and that the militia’s continuation was the result of the existing discrepancy.

He pointed out that good progress had been made, praising the National Alliance of Political Parties and Forces. He revealed the formation of a committee of secretaries of all parties and the head of the Alliance for conducting dialogue and communication with the rest of the components in the Presidential Leadership Council (PLC), such as the Southern Transitional Council (STC), the Political Bureau of the Resistance (PBR), the Hadhramawt Inclusive Conference (HIC), and the Southern National Coalition.

He called on all parties and components to hold a meeting for an agreement based on restoring the state and forgetting the differences of the past, or at least postponing those differences.

 

political parties:

Al-Hijri stated that political parties represent the backbone for the political system, noting that the constitution stipulates that the political system in Yemen is based on political pluralism.

In the past decades, he made it clear that the parties proved their worth and participated in the electoral processes, where they participated in power at times and in the opposition at other times, and they played a major role and were and still are the political bearers of legitimacy in the face of the Houthi militia’s coup.

He attributed the decline in the emergence of the parties in the past year to the shift of attention towards the components of the Presidential Leadership Council, considering the unification of the forces included in it to be a positive thing, but at the same time he expressed his regret about the marginalization of the role of the parties.

He warned of the danger of encouraging the multiplicity of armies instead of encouraging political pluralism, pointing to the dangers that the multiplicity of armies poses to the structure and stability of the state and the societal fabric, where these armies were undisciplined and unified under the leadership of the Ministries of Defense and Interior so that they would not pose a danger in the future. He attributed the cause of collapses and wars in the country to the distribution of power between quarreling parties and armed groups such as the Houthi militia, which caused the catastrophe we are experiencing.

The head of the Parliamentary Bloc of the Islah Party said that he is optimistic that the Presidential Leadership Council will unite all entities in confronting the Houthi militia in order to restore the state, whether by peace or by war.

He considered it a mistake to treat political parties as if they had ended, because this proposition contradicted the truth.

"Political parties exist on the ground. It is true that these parties and the homeland have been afflicted with weakness and diaspora among the people of Yemen, but this does not mean that these parties have disappeared," he continued.

Al-Hijri warned against some people preaching and celebrating the disappearance of these parties because the alternative to them is violance groups, if political life is not restored, indicating that the alternative is frightening.

 

Return the political life:

He pointed out that objective circumstances affected the parties, including the Houthi militia’s control over the governorates and the elimination of political life. He pointed out that the militia closed and looted party headquarters, banned newspapers and party channels, and suppressed rights and freedoms, pointing out that this had forced parties in areas under the militia’s control to remain silent.

During his speech, Al-Hijri touched on the occurrence of problems in some areas subject to legitimacy, as political life is still suspended in some of them as a result of factors known to everyone, stressing that this issue will be addressed and that everyone should strive to revive the spirit of political action in areas of legitimacy.

He explained that the Consultation Body reached positive, unified visions on the issue of peace and principles for political reconciliation that regulate the work of parties and their relationship with each other, which are similar to general principles of a code of honor.

“If political parties had an opportunity to function normally, they would develop themselves and overcome weakness,” he said.

The leader of the Islah Party confirmed that there are major forces present in the Yemeni arena. All of these forces agree on rejecting the coup and uniting on the mission of restoring the state. He welcomed any efforts made without diminishing anyone's role, indicating that the matter that unites all forces is the return of the state and the republic and the preservation of the nation's integrity, sovereignty, and territorial integrity.

He pointed out that the horizon of optimism was great at the time of the formation of the Presidential Leadership Council, expressing his regret that the result in achieving something was less than what was hoped for, continuing, “But we do not despair and hope that all of these components can make a difference because we believe that those who lead These components have a lot of national concern.”

 

The Islah Party is paying the price for its national position:

Al-Hijri stressed that the Islah Party is paying the price for its national stance, as it was and still stands by the republican system, democracy, political pluralism, an interconnected federal Yemen, and the nation’s sovereignty and independence. He explained that the Islah Party paid a heavy price because of its bias towards national issues.

He attributed the reason for the Houthi militia's targeting of the Islah Party, since the beginning of its coup, to the party's bias towards the republican project, expressing his regret that the political disputes that occurred between the parties in the past period contributed and helped the Houthis in accomplishing their mission.

Al-Hijri stated that Al-Houthi dealt with dividing the rivalry in 2014. He was working to make the political parties believe that he was targeting only the Islah Party, and he was making the military believe that he only wanted Major General Ali Mohsen, and he was making the sheikhs believe that he only wanted the Al-Ahmar family, but when he was able and the matter was settled for him, he isolated each party. Then he eliminated everyone.

“A Testimony to History, there were those who colluded. If the Houthis were to rid us of the parties, so be it. Although it was assumed that even in the event of a political dispute with the Islah Party or other parties, the ballot box could be resorted to, and then removed through the ballot box and not To be replaced by an armed group that emptied political life of its content and eliminated everyone,” he added.

Al-Hijri noted what the Islah Party made in confronting the Houthi militia project, its involvement with the rest of the people of Yemen in the resistance and defense of the republic, and its sacrifices by offering many martyrs and wounded. The Islah Party was severely targeted in its capabilities and headquarters, the homes of some of its leaders were bombed, and the homes and property of leaders in the Islah Party and other national leaders were confiscated.

He pointed out that the Islah Party remained largely consistent in its position on the coup against the state and was not on the side of one or the other.

The head of the parliamentary bloc of the Islah Party touched on the situation of the diaspora resulting from the Houthi coup and war and its impact on the parties’ activity, which he said can only revive and grow in light of stability, as war destroys political life.

He said, "We are the people most keen for the coup and the war to end and for peace to return because we, as a political party, only thrive in an atmosphere of peace, where we devote ourselves to political and community work, community and legal activities, and various fields."

He stressed the need for the Islah Party for the party’s institutions to review and evaluate their performance during the war and pre-war period and to come up with new visions and ideas for the next stage, whether at the level of ideas, programs or persons.

 

The Islah Party and its national bias:

Regarding the question about the validity of what some say that the Islah Party emerged from the war unscathed due to its good dealings and balanced management, Al-Hijri explained that the Islah Party includes in its composition all segments of society and has tried to work with balance in its dealings and movements, for the sake of a single lofty goal, which is to restore Country.

He went on to say, "For this reason, the Islah Party made sacrifices and concessions in other places, whether at the political or governmental level, and endured a lot of harm and demonization directed at it by some, to which, unfortunately, some of its comrades in the struggle contributed, and all of this served only the Houthi."

He expressed his regret that some mentalities still control some situations and provoke quarrels, calling on them to at least reschedule the disputes.

Al-Hijri stressed that the first enemy for the country is the absence of the state and the fall of the national project, considering that any effort spent on anything other than this is futile and serves the agenda of the coup that is destroying the country.

He said that the division occurring in the Presidential Command Council is unfortunate and affects the state and reflects negatively on its military, economic and political situation.

He attributed the existing discrepancies to conflicting agendas due to some people being in a hurry to reap the fruits of their project that they want to achieve, and they believe that the opportunity is favorable due to the weakness of the state to implement the project they are drawing up.

The head of the parliamentary bloc of the Islah Party confirmed that this is not true and will not happen, explaining that projects, regardless of agreement on them, can only be achieved in light of stability and the presence of the state.

He said that the Presidential Command Council is concerned with overcoming this dispute, where it was entrusted with responsibility by the former president within the framework of the transfer of power, where it stipulated restoring the state from the militia whether through peace or war, preserving the country’s unity, safety, independence, and sovereignty, and working on economic recovery, providing services to people, and rebuilding, revitalizing, and activating state institutions.

 

The future of peace:

The head of the parliamentary bloc of the Islah Party expressed the party’s appreciation for any effort made by the international community or the brothers in Saudi Arabia, Oman or elsewhere to bring peace to Yemen and stop the war imposed on the Yemenis by the Houthi militia, explaining that the legitimacy and political forces seek to bring peace and hope that the war will end. Without peace being a reward for the Houthi militia.

He stressed that the peace required is a just and comprehensive peace that guarantees the end of the war and the return of state institutions, as well as ensuring that the war will not be repeated again.

He stressed that the expected peace must preserve the legal status of the state and lead to the withdrawal of weapons from the militia, so that it is not a mined peace that opens a new door to conflict, but rather it must be a peace that preserves the country’s unity, safety, and sovereignty.

He said that any negotiation must be limited to two parties: the legitimate government and the Houthi militia, noting that the brothers are making efforts to bring points of view closer together in order for the two parties to sit at the negotiating table because the war is between the Houthi militia and the Yemeni people.

He called on the leadership of legitimacy to involve political parties in the process because these parties are its political bearers.

He called on the Presidential Leadership Council and the government not to bypass the parties in forming a negotiating delegation without them, pointing out that political parties should be represented in the negotiating delegation because the parties are the ones who protect and defend the outcomes.

 

Al-Houthi and peace:

Regarding the extent of the Houthi militia’s readiness to bring peace, renounce violence, and resort to the will of the Yemeni people, Al-Hijri said that the problem with the Islah Party and other political forces with the Houthis is that they imposed their project by force of arms, overthrew the state, and imposed war.

He continued, saying, "If the Houthi heads to present his political program, whatever it is, even if he believes that he is the son of God, then let him tell the Yemeni people through a fair electoral process that he is the son of God and the son of the Messenger of God. If the Yemenis accept him in a free electoral process, they will bear responsibility for themselves, and we in turn will accept and bless that, but for him to impose his project by force is unacceptable and no one will accept it.”

The head of the parliamentary bloc of the Islah Party said, "If Houthi withdraws from his coup against state institutions and hands over heavy and medium weapons to be like the rest of the Yemenis, there will be no problem between us and him."

He stressed that one party cannot eliminate another party from the map, but each party must take its natural size and through peaceful means.

He considered that whoever uses weapons means that he has no justification and that his program is unacceptable.

He added: "We have a constitution based on political pluralism, freedom of opinion and expression, and elections. After the comprehensive National Dialogue Conference, the Yemenis were about to hold a referendum on the constitution and enter into elections, and if the Houthis see themselves as this strong, let them be placed on an electoral list and enter the House of Representatives," indicating that the Houthi has illogical and irrational claims.

 

The economic situation and the parliament:

The head of the Parliamentary Bloc of the Yemeni Islah Party pointed out that the economic and services situation is deteriorating in the entire country and that the state is supposed to improve services in the legitimate areas.

He expressed his regret for the government's performance, which is below the required level, pointing to the deterioration of services, mismanagement, and corruption.

He also expressed his regret that the House of Representatives was not able to return to performing its role in monitoring the government’s performance and holding negligent parties accountable in light of the disruption of other oversight institutions.

Al-Hijri revealed the meeting of the Presidency of the House of Representatives with the heads of the prosecutorial blocs the week before last, and its meeting with the President and members of the Presidential Leadership Council and the Prime Minister. He said that they were heated meetings with what was explicitly presented in them about what they should do, hoping that the Leadership Council and the government would respond to the demands of the representatives.

The head of the parliamentary bloc of the Islah Party admitted that he did not allow the House of Representatives to return to work, explaining that the failure that occurred was not caused by the members of the House who were keen to hold the sessions as a constitutional, moral and national duty that would contribute to resolving the situation and restoring the state and its institutions.

He pointed out security obstacles due to the conditions of the diaspora, the lack of a permanent headquarters, and the need for the convening to be exceptionally arranged by the executive authority, which today bears responsibility for the convening.

 

The Islah Party and its relations:

The head of the parliamentary bloc of the Yemeni Islah Party confirmed that there is no division within the Islah Party, indicating that the conditions of diaspora and war made some people go to the destination where it is easy for them to reside.

He touched on what is reported about some Islah Party activists deviating from the official Islah Party positions with opinions affecting some issues, indicating that they do not reflect the Islah Party and they are the ones who bear responsibility for them.

Al-Hijri explained that the Islah Party has its own rules and controls, as well as its plans, programs, and political orientation, and every individual who belongs to the Islah Party must abide by the decision of the party institutions, and whoever disagrees with it expresses himself.

He urged those who believe that they cannot abide by the directives of the Islah Party institutions, that it is wise for the party not to bear the consequences of what they do.

Regarding a question about the Islah Party’s relationship with the countries of the region, Al-Hijri stressed that the Islah Party’s relationship with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is a positive relationship, and it is an extension of the historical relationship of the Yemeni state with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, stressing the importance of developing it for the sake of common interests.

He renewed the Islah Party’s high appreciation for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for its positions with Yemen previously and during the war, and for what he hopes the Kingdoom to provide in the future, expressing his confidence that the brothers will not abandon their brothers in Yemen.

He also expressed his appreciation to the brothers in the United Arab Emirates for their positions and support for Sharia law and the sacrifices of their children with Sharia law.

Al-Hijri stressed that the Islah Party does not have any problems towards the brothers in the United Arab Emirates, referring to previous meetings that took place between the leadership of the United Arab Emirates and the leaders of the Islah Party, hoping to overcome the existing misunderstanding and move forward with matters that are good for Yemen and all countries.

He expressed his thanks to those in charge of the Sana'a Center, considering that the event was beautifully managed and reflects the contribution of Yemeni youth in preparing programs and events that discuss issues and topics. He called for taking into account the participants’ evaluation of the topics raised and what should be presented in the future, taking into account the influential parties and forces to give them priority in attending and presenting their ideas and visions.