ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - A high-level Shiite delegation arrived in the Kurdistan Region’s capital on Wednesday to meet with Kurdish leaders, discussing the new government formation in Iraq following the parliamentary elections where the Iran-backed Shiites were defeated.
Headed by Nouri al-Maliki, the Coordination Framework, which was formed by some losing party leaders, arrived in Erbil in the morning hours.
The framework met with the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) leader Masoud Barzani in Pirmam, according to a statement from Barzani Headquarters.
The meeting highlighted “the need to review Iraq’s governance, take advantage of past experiences and considering the principles of partnership, compromise and balance in the governing process,” read the statement.
Iraq held a parliamentary election on October 10. The Independent High Electoral Commission (IHEC) announced the official results on November 30, after resolving all of the complaints submitted by objecting parties. Once the results are ratified by the Supreme Court, a process of forming the government is set in motion, as dictated by the constitution.
Iran-backed parties, which were among the objecting blocs, emerged as the main losers of the election.
The Coordination Framework, which includes the notable Fatih Alliance, State of Law Coalition and National State Forces Alliance and other blocs have alleged fraud, demanding the cancelation of the vote and pledging to challenge the process in the Federal Supreme Court of Iraq.
Related: Who’s who in the Iraqi elections?
However, the framework is getting involved in talks with several parties, including the KDP to take part in the new government formation, KDP spokesperson Mahmood Mohammed told Rudaw’s Bahroz Faraidun.
The framework and the KDP have not reached any agreements, he added.
The KDP is tied for the fourth-largest number of seats, winning 31 spots in the 329-seat legislature, and once again taking the position of largest Kurdish party in the Iraqi parliament.
The State of Law Coalition, which is led by Maliki, won 33 seats according to the final results.
Maliki, was the first full-term prime minister in Iraq. He built strong ties with Iran over the years. During his premiership, the Islamic State group (ISIS) emerged in the country and the relationship between Baghdad and Erbil deteriorated. In 2014, accused of sectarianism and authoritarianism.
In August, Maliki told Rudaw that he is not looking to be the prime minister again, but he is looking for “real reform of the administrative system and political system in the country.”
He is expected to meet with the Kurdish President Nechirvan Barzani and members of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) during his visit to the Region.
