The return of the vice presidents: A compromise proposal to appease Maliki and Halbousi
Various political sources revealed on Monday a governmental and political movement to reactivate the position of the two vice presidents of the republic, with a proposal to assign the two positions to Nouri al-Maliki and Mohammed al-Halbousi as part of settlements aimed at achieving political balance.
A source told Shafaq News Agency that “the political forces within the State Administration Coalition are studying a mechanism to reactivate the two positions, assigning one of the seats to Maliki and the other to Halbousi,” noting that “the position may be acceptable to both figures.”
In contrast, MP Firas Al-Muslawi, spokesman for the Reconstruction and Development bloc, told Shafaq News Agency that “activating the two vice-presidential positions is open for discussion within the political understandings and is subject to consensus,” indicating that “Al-Maliki had previously rejected the position, and it is unlikely that he will accept it even if it is activated, with the possibility of a decision being issued soon on this matter being ruled out.”
Regarding the meeting of the Coordination Framework, Al-Muslawi indicated that “the leaders of the Shiite House will hold their periodic meeting today to decide on the mechanism for choosing the Prime Minister,” considering that Muhammad Shia Al-Sudani is “the most likely to be elected for a second term, with the support of the majority of the Framework’s components, especially since the Reconstruction and Development bloc has 51 seats.”
But another political source explained that “Al-Sudani received messages from conservative Shiite leaders, advising against relying on the results of the presidential election session, because the numbers are not fixed and the previous scenario may not be repeated.”
Parliament Speaker Hebat al-Halbousi had called on President Nizar Amidi, after he took the constitutional oath on Saturday (April 11), to consult with the political blocs to name the vice presidents of the republic in accordance with Article 75 of the constitution.
In 2016, Haider al-Abadi’s government abolished the positions of vice presidents as part of a package of reforms, before the Supreme Federal Court later ruled the abolition unconstitutional, stressing that the position was a constitutional duty.
Shafaq.com