At the request of the Sudanese government, the “decisive” meeting of the coordination framework has been postponed, and a Sunni leader has entered the fray (update).
At the request of the Sudanese government, the “decisive” meeting of the coordination framework has been postponed, and a Sunni leader has entered the fray (update).
2026-04-18
Shafaq News – Baghdad
A political source revealed on Saturday that the coordination framework meeting was postponed at the request of caretaker Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, while indicating that a Sunni leader is on the negotiating line to decide on the prime minister candidate.
The source told Shafaq News Agency that “the coordination framework meeting scheduled to be held this Saturday evening at the home of the leader of the Wisdom Movement, Ammar al-Hakim, has been postponed to next Monday.”
He added that “the request for postponement came through the front of those who object to the nomination of the head of the State of Law Coalition, Nouri al-Maliki, or whoever enjoys his support, in order to gather the largest number of votes from the leaders of the framework to support the nomination of al-Sudani for a second term, or to ensure the removal of al-Maliki.”
He continued, “A Sunni leader intervened to pressure forces within the framework to join al-Sudani’s team, but he also failed. Consequently, al-Sudani requested a postponement to buy time in order to change their movement and adopt a new plan to secure a second term.”
He added that “the second dilemma, according to the source, which narrowed the Sudanese front, is the mechanism for announcing Maliki’s withdrawal of his candidacy. According to the behind-the-scenes of the meetings, the forces that were hesitant about Maliki suggested that the latter announce his withdrawal officially and publicly, and then enter into discussions on choosing the head of government, but the failure to achieve this matter led to the postponement.”
He noted that “a small meeting of some of the framework’s leaders is likely to be held today, in the form of a consultative meeting on the crisis.”
An informed source suggested earlier today that the coordinating framework that includes the ruling Shiite political forces in Iraq may resort to postponing its “crucial” meeting to present a candidate for the position of Prime Minister until next Monday.
The source told Shafaq News Agency that the meeting scheduled for Saturday is still on, but some leaders of the framework have requested a postponement until Monday in order to reach a decisive decision that will lead to the selection of a candidate for prime minister who enjoys the support of the majority of the coordinating framework.
These disagreements come at a time when the government formation process has entered a critical constitutional phase, following the election of Nizar Amidi as President of the Republic on April 11, and the obligation of the largest parliamentary bloc (the Coordination Framework) to present its candidate for the premiership within a maximum period of 15 days.
This dispute is more sensitive because al-Maliki was originally put forward as an official candidate for the Coordination Framework for the Prime Ministership, before the calculations became complicated later due to internal objections and external pressures, most notably the American position rejecting the establishment of a government that it sees as subject to Iranian influence. This reshuffled the cards within the framework and prompted some of its members to reopen the search for alternatives or a compromise candidate, led by the head of the Accountability and Justice Commission, Bassem al-Badri, along with other candidates.
shafaq.com
