Al-Sudani and Al-Maliki withdraw their candidacies for prime minister in favor of Ihsan Al-Awadi
Al-Sudani and Al-Maliki withdraw their candidacies for prime minister in favor of Ihsan Al-Awadi
2026-01-10 02:51
Shafaq News – Baghdad
A source within the coordination framework stated on Saturday that the two competing candidates for the position of Prime Minister of the next Iraqi government, namely “the caretaker Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani and the leader of the State of Law Coalition, Nouri al-Maliki,” have withdrawn in favor of a compromise candidate agreed upon, namely Ihsan al-Awadi, the director of the former’s office.
Since the ratification of the election results held in November 2025, the Coordination Framework has begun holding meetings and discussions among its members and with other parties to decide on the position of Prime Minister, which is allocated to the Shiite component according to the custom established after 2003.
The source close to the State of Law Coalition told Shafaq News Agency that “continuous discussions took place during the past two days between (Maliki and Sudani) to reach an agreement that would end the controversy over the identity of the candidate for prime minister after the coordination framework authorized them to resolve the obstacle of choosing the candidate.”
He added that the two sides, “during detailed and lengthy discussions, reached a preliminary agreement to choose Ihsan al-Awadi as a compromise candidate to head the next government,” and al-Awadi is the director of al-Sudani’s office during his term as head of the outgoing government.
Recently, multiple sources have not ruled out the possibility that the framework will put forward a compromise candidate – whose identity has not yet been announced – to head the new government.
The source also indicated that “the points of all the forces of the framework will not be affected by the selection of Al-Awadi, as he is a compromise candidate not affiliated with any side of the Shiite house,” adding that “until now, the leaders of the coordinating framework have not been officially informed of Al-Awadi’s nomination.”
He noted that “this matter will be discussed during the next meeting of the Shiite House forces, and if everyone agrees on it, Al-Awadi will proceed as a candidate for the presidency of the new government, otherwise the framework forces will resume their meetings to name a candidate who enjoys the support of all Shiite parties.”
The source continued, saying that “the outgoing prime minister’s agreement to withdraw from the race for the premiership led to the selection of Al-Awadi, and the next few days will reveal this.”
The Imam and Friday preacher of Najaf, Sadr al-Din al-Qubanchi, yesterday ruled out the possibility of a crisis within the coordinating framework that includes the ruling Shiite political forces and parties in the country regarding the failure to choose a new Prime Minister for Iraq, despite the fact that nearly two months have passed since the legislative elections were held and their results were ratified.
Meanwhile, in response to Al-Awadi’s nomination, MP Mukhtar Al-Mousawi, a member of the Coordination Framework, predicted that the Coordination Framework might object to Al-Awadi’s nomination for the next government.
Al-Moussawi explained to Shafaq News Agency, “I believe that most of the forces within the Coordination Framework will reject Al-Awadi’s nomination for the position because Iraq needs a leader for this phase. Al-Awadi is an office manager, and therefore the candidate for the position must have a well-known experience in managing the phase, crises, and international and regional dealings.”
He added that “the results of the upcoming meeting of the Coordination Framework forces will determine the features of the government roadmap.”
shafaq.com
