Maliki sets conditions to obstruct Sudani’s second term… and the Popular Mobilization Forces enter the fray.
Maliki sets conditions to obstruct Sudani’s second term… and the Popular Mobilization Forces enter the fray.
2026-04-13
Shafaq News – Baghdad
An informed source revealed on Monday that Nouri al-Maliki, head of the State of Law Coalition, informed the leaders of the Coordination Framework of his readiness to withdraw his candidacy for the position of Prime Minister, in exchange for not nominating and renewing the term of the current Prime Minister, Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, for a second term.
The source told Shafaq News Agency that “Maliki also stipulated that no figure who had previously held the position of Prime Minister in previous governments should be assigned,” referring to the leader of the Victory Coalition, Haider al-Abadi.
He added that “several names have been put forward for the position, but no candidate has been decided yet,” indicating that “the meeting of the coordination framework, scheduled for today, will discuss al-Maliki’s conditions and look into alternative names.”
The source indicated that “leaders in the Popular Mobilization Forces will have a role in choosing the candidate for prime minister,” noting that “today’s meeting may not resolve the issue, with the possibility of postponing the selection of the candidate to a later meeting.”
The Reconstruction and Development Coalition confirmed on Monday that its leader, Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, could be tasked with forming the new government within 48 hours, and indicated that he has broad support within the coordination framework and from other political forces.
The framework is preparing to hold a meeting this Monday evening to discuss nine candidates, amid the introduction of alternative names, including a consensus candidate, after the largest bloc called for naming its candidate in accordance with Article 76 of the Constitution, in light of political and security complications that may delay the resolution of the issue.
shafaq.com
