Iraq's pro-Iran Coordination Framework is leaning towards nominating Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani for a second term days after the election of Nizar Amedi as president.
This would mean abandoning the nomination of former PM Nouri al-Maliki, whose chances of becoming premier are nil after US President Donald Trump’s declaration that he opposes his candidacy.
Sudani is not the only name being floated. Head of the Justice and Accountability Commission Bassem al-Badri and former PM Haidar al-Abadi are seen as “consensus” candidates.
A leading source in the Framework told Asharq Al-Awsat that the coalition has no more than two weeks to decide on a candidate.
Speaking on condition of anonymity, he said the coalition wants to take advantage of the truce between the United States and Iran to name a candidate and form a government.
A new candidate may be named very soon, he added.
He acknowledged the complex relations and divisions within the Framework, stressing however that time was running out for its members to name a candidate before the US-Iran war erupts again.
The source highlighted the “pivotal” role played by President of the Supreme Judicial Council Faiq Zaidan in trying to overcome differences and ensure that a candidate is named within the constitutional deadline.
On the possible candidates, the source said it was difficult to identify who has the greatest chances, but it is certain that Maliki is out of the race.
Sudani remains a strong candidate, while Abadi and Badri are also in the running. A fourth figure may also emerge as a candidate, he revealed.
On why Maliki continues to cling on to his nomination, the source explained that the former PM is awaiting the Framework to withdraw his candidacy because it named him in the first place.
He believes that there is no justification for him to pull out from the race unless the Framework decides so to avoid being viewed as having yielded to American pressure, the source said.
Meanwhile, Maliki appears to have become isolated within the Framework and he is now seeking to obstruct efforts to nominate Sudani and Abadi in an effort to portray himself as playing a major role in naming a prime minister.
Reports said that Maliki had informed the Framework of his readiness to quit the race in exchange for the coalition refraining from nominating Sudani for a second term.
He also demanded that it refrain from naming a former PM to the post, a reference to Abadi who was a member of Maliki’s Dawa party.
President of the Islamic Supreme Council of Iraq Humam Hamoudi said on Sunday the Framework has no more than two weeks to name a candidate, urging consensus or a majority agreement over the issue.
“The new government will have fundamental challenges ahead of it, starting with building an army capable of defending Iraq’s sovereignty and activating diplomacy to bolster partnerships with neighboring countries to help consolidate regional security and stability,” he stressed.
Meanwhile, Sudani and his Construction and Development Coalition are committed to his candidacy.
Sources within his alliance believe he is “close to being appointed” by the president to form a new government.
Leading member of the coalition Khalid Walid told local media on Monday that Sudani enjoys the support of the majority of the members of the Framework.
He believes that the coming 48 hours will be decisive for Sudani’s candidacy, especially amid the challenges facing Iraq that demand the formation of a government that enjoys broad political support and that can overcome the crises at hand.
