Al-Maliki: The incoming government must build regional and international partnerships and distance itself from axes of power.
On Thursday, Nouri al-Maliki, leader of the State of Law Coalition and prime ministerial candidate, called on the incoming government to build “solid” regional and international partnerships that would enhance Iraq’s security and development, stressing the need to adopt an “independent” approach away from “axes”.
Al-Maliki said in a post on the “X” platform, which was followed by Shafaq News Agency: “Iraq must be an active balancing element in its regional environment, believing that dialogue and economic integration are the shortest path to consolidating stability.”
He added: “Based on this, we hope that the future government will adopt an independent national approach that does not engage in axes, but rather works to build solid international partnerships in accordance with agreements that enhance Iraq’s security and development and respect its sovereignty.”
He stressed that “Iraq looks forward to balanced and strong relations with everyone without exception, in a way that serves its national interests and the stability of the region,” adding, “We believe that Iraq’s strength, economy and position lie in its ability to create a state of balance and interaction with partners with deep respect for its sovereignty and will.”
It is worth noting that Nouri al-Maliki, the leader of the State of Law Coalition, was one of the most prominent candidates for the next prime ministership, along with outgoing Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani. However, the latter’s withdrawal from the race made al-Maliki the sole candidate for the position.
However, al-Maliki’s candidacy faced objections from several internal parties, most notably Sunni leaders, in addition to some Shiite parties and from within the same coordination framework. The candidacy also met with strong rejection from the American administration, reaching the point where US President Donald Trump threatened to stop aid to Iraq and not cooperate with it if al-Maliki assumed the premiership.
Against this backdrop, the Coordination Framework showed flexibility in reviewing its decision regarding the nomination of Nouri al-Maliki. An informed political source revealed to Shafaq News Agency on Tuesday that “the leaders of the Coordination Framework agreed during (Tuesday’s) meeting to withdraw the nomination of Nouri al-Maliki for the premiership.”
For his part, a source in the State of Law Coalition told Shafaq News Agency that “the coordination framework will hold a meeting in the coming days to discuss the issue of adhering to or withdrawing Nouri al-Maliki’s nomination for the premiership.”
The “coordination framework,” which includes ruling Shiite political forces in Iraq, is witnessing a division over the nomination of Maliki for the next government, amid American warnings of the repercussions of his selection, which prompted forces within the coalition to try to persuade him to withdraw in order to preserve the unity of the framework.
Shafaq.com