Coordination Framework to decide on Nouri al-Maliki’s premiership nomination

Shafaq News- Baghdad

Iraq’s Coordination Framework is preparing to hold an expanded meeting to resolve the ongoing political deadlock by deciding whether to maintain or withdraw Nouri al-Maliki’s nomination for prime minister, informed sources told Shafaq News on Saturday.

The Coordination Framework, an alliance of Shiite political forces, is seeking to reach a unified position on its candidate for the premiership amid divisions within the bloc, the sources said, revealing that discussions in the next meeting will focus on selecting a figure suited to the country’s current economic and security challenges. The alliance is also expected to coordinate on setting a date for a parliamentary session to elect a new president, who would then formally task the Framework, as the largest parliamentary bloc, to nominate the next prime minister.

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The meeting will address whether to keep the nomination of State of Law Coalition leader Nouri al-Maliki, whether he would withdraw personally, or whether the alliance would officially revoke his candidacy and search for an alternative.

The Framework has been divided over al-Maliki’s bid to return to office, with the head of the Al-Hikma Movement, Ammar al-Hakim, and Asaib Ahl al-Haq leader Qais al-Khazali expressing reservations about his candidacy. International reactions, including warnings from the United States over the potential implications of his selection, have also raised concerns among some Sunni factions.

Al-Maliki, who served as prime minister for eight years between 2006 and 2014, has repeatedly said he remains committed to his candidacy, adding that any reversal must come through a formal decision by the Coordination Framework.

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