“Al-Maliki will not back down”… The framework is searching for an alternative within the “previous list”.
Nasim Abdullah, a member of the political bureau of the “Eqtidaar” party, which is part of the coordination framework, revealed on Monday that there are talks and meetings within the Shiite bloc regarding the candidate for the new government’s premiership.
Abdullah told Shafaq News Agency that “the framework forces will take into consideration the challenges facing the country and the issue of national consensus regarding the Shiite House candidate for the premiership, and will therefore resolve the controversy surrounding him through a unified decision.”
In contrast, a source within the coordination framework indicated that “some leaders of the coordination framework, particularly those who were hesitant about nominating the leader of the State of Law Coalition, Nouri al-Maliki, for the premiership, held consultative meetings with most of the Shiite House leaders to unify visions and positions regarding the continuation of the nomination and to discuss the matter with the latter, and the results were that al-Maliki insisted on his nomination for the position.”
According to the source, who spoke to Shafaq News Agency, some forces within the framework believe that the challenges are significant and the accumulated crises may generate negative reactions from Iraqis towards the entire political process, in addition to external pressures and the major challenges facing the region. He pointed out the possibility of discussing the selection of a new candidate from the list of previous candidates, and thus the matter remains in the hands of the framework.
For his part, a source close to Maliki confirmed to Shafaq News Agency that “the news and information that spoke about his intention to withdraw from the nomination this evening is incorrect, as he is determined to continue the nomination.”
He continued, saying: “There is no meeting of the Coordination Framework today, Monday, to announce or decide on that, and the rumors that have been leaked are driven by a political agenda.”
On Sunday, the Speaker of the Iraqi Parliament, Hebat al-Halbousi, submitted a request to the Supreme Federal Court to interpret a constitutional provision related to the election of the President of the Republic, given the inability to hold a session with a quorum for this purpose.
US President Donald Trump said last Friday that he is considering the appointment of a new prime minister in Iraq, noting that he has “some options” regarding the matter.
A US State Department official revealed to Shafaq News Agency a decisive stance by the US administration regarding the return of the leader of the State of Law Coalition, Nouri al-Maliki, to the premiership in Iraq, stressing that this trend will put bilateral relations between Baghdad and Washington on the table for “reassessment”.
It is worth noting that Trump said on January 27, 2026, in a post on the “Truth Social” platform, that the return of former Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki to the premiership is “something that should not be allowed,” considering that Iraq “slid into poverty and chaos” during his previous term.
Shafaq.com