Iraqi PM nomination hinges on Maliki’s bid or his pick: Sources
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Veteran politician Nouri al-Maliki’s insistence on becoming Iraq’s next prime minister—or at least having the decisive say in selecting another candidate for the post—led to the postponement of Monday’s scheduled meeting of the Shiite Coordination Framework, well-placed sources within the coalition confirmed to Rudaw on Tuesday.
“The deferral was meant to allow for further discussions on a candidate for premiership,” said Aqeel al-Rudaini, the spokesperson of Victory Alliance led by Haidar al-Abadi, a former prime minister and potential candidate for the post, said.
Rudaw learned that one of the 12 members of the Coordination Framework has requested the meeting to be postponed to Wednesday.
The disagreements within the Shiite camp came to light when the US President Donald Trump unequivocally rejected the Shiite coalition’s decision to nominate Maliki for the powerful position in January, calling the decision a “very bad choice” and warning that Washington will “no longer help Iraq” if he was appointed the Iraqi premier.
Maliki labeled Trump’s announcement a “blatant American interference” in Iraqi affairs and stated that there are no disagreements over his nomination with the Coordination Framework.
However, some factions within the Shiite powerhouse appear to be willing to cede to Trump’s pressure, hoping to shield Iraq from potential backlash by the US, including through freezing Iraqi oil sales deposited in the Federal Reserve Bank in New York.
However, Maliki refuses to give up his nomination. His slight compromise is to select a candidate of his choice. Discussions revolve around Basim al-Badri, a member of the Maliki-led Dawaa Party and head of the Accountability and Justice Commission.
“Maliki’s withdrawal is contingent upon the exclusion of former prime ministers from candidacy and his personal appointment of a replacement,” Mithaq al-Masari, a member of Badr Organization’s political bureau, told Rudaw. Thus, Maliki can sideline Abadi and incumbent Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani from premiership.
Meanwhile, Rudaini said that in the event of Maliki’s withdrawal, Badri will be the likely candidate.
Iraq held legislative elections in early November and in late December, parliament elected its speaker and two deputies. On Sunday, parliament elected the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan's (PUK) nominee, Nizar Amedi, as president in a vote contested by the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP).
Under the constitution, once sworn in, the president has up to 15 days to task the nominee of the largest parliamentary bloc - the Coordination Framework - with forming a government.
In such a case, the coalition has 12 days left to select a prime minister nominee.
“The deferral was meant to allow for further discussions on a candidate for premiership,” said Aqeel al-Rudaini, the spokesperson of Victory Alliance led by Haidar al-Abadi, a former prime minister and potential candidate for the post, said.
Rudaw learned that one of the 12 members of the Coordination Framework has requested the meeting to be postponed to Wednesday.
The disagreements within the Shiite camp came to light when the US President Donald Trump unequivocally rejected the Shiite coalition’s decision to nominate Maliki for the powerful position in January, calling the decision a “very bad choice” and warning that Washington will “no longer help Iraq” if he was appointed the Iraqi premier.
Maliki labeled Trump’s announcement a “blatant American interference” in Iraqi affairs and stated that there are no disagreements over his nomination with the Coordination Framework.
However, some factions within the Shiite powerhouse appear to be willing to cede to Trump’s pressure, hoping to shield Iraq from potential backlash by the US, including through freezing Iraqi oil sales deposited in the Federal Reserve Bank in New York.
However, Maliki refuses to give up his nomination. His slight compromise is to select a candidate of his choice. Discussions revolve around Basim al-Badri, a member of the Maliki-led Dawaa Party and head of the Accountability and Justice Commission.
“Maliki’s withdrawal is contingent upon the exclusion of former prime ministers from candidacy and his personal appointment of a replacement,” Mithaq al-Masari, a member of Badr Organization’s political bureau, told Rudaw. Thus, Maliki can sideline Abadi and incumbent Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani from premiership.
Meanwhile, Rudaini said that in the event of Maliki’s withdrawal, Badri will be the likely candidate.
Iraq held legislative elections in early November and in late December, parliament elected its speaker and two deputies. On Sunday, parliament elected the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan's (PUK) nominee, Nizar Amedi, as president in a vote contested by the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP).
Under the constitution, once sworn in, the president has up to 15 days to task the nominee of the largest parliamentary bloc - the Coordination Framework - with forming a government.
In such a case, the coalition has 12 days left to select a prime minister nominee.
Hastyar Qadir contributed to this article from Erbil, Kurdistan Region.