Lamenting new political alliance (9)

I believe the answer is:

alignment

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'political alliance' is the definition.
'alignment' can be an answer for 'alliance' (synonyms). I'm not certain of the 'political' bit.

'lamenting new' is the wordplay.
'new' indicates anagramming the letters.
'lamenting' is an anagram of 'ALIGNMENT'.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for alignment that I've seen before include "union" , "Conformity - straightening" , "Order" , "evening out" , "Soldiers must dress properly for this" .)

I've seen this clue in the Sydney Morning Herald.

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