The Coordination Committee will decide on al-Maliki’s nomination tonight.
The Coordination Committee will decide on al-Maliki’s nomination tonight.
2026-02-23 05:28
Shafaq News – Baghdad
A responsible political source revealed on Monday that an “important” meeting is expected in the coming hours for the leaders of the coordinating framework that includes Shiite political forces, in order to decide on the nomination of the head of the State of Law Coalition for the next government.
A short while ago, Maliki confirmed that he has no intention of withdrawing from the nomination for the premiership, while informed political sources indicated that he stipulates that any decision to withdraw his nomination must be issued by a majority of the leaders of the Coordination Framework exclusively, and not as a result of external pressures.
The source told Shafaq News Agency that “the coordination framework will hold its periodic meeting this evening at the home of the Secretary-General of the Supreme Council, Humam Hamoudi, to discuss a number of crucial political issues, foremost among them being expediting the process of forming the new Iraqi government, in addition to discussing the issue of nominating Maliki, in light of the American position that publicly rejects this nomination.”
The source, who asked not to be named, said that “the meeting will focus on assessing the repercussions of continuing to nominate Maliki on the relationship between the Coordination Framework and the US administration and the international community in general, as well as discussing options for withdrawing the nomination or continuing to support it, while studying the expected scenarios for the political, security and economic challenges that may result from any decision that is taken.”
He added that “the meeting of the coordination framework comes at a sensitive time that is witnessing a diplomatic and field escalation in the region, which makes the Iraqi position on the formation of the government a subject of local and regional monitoring, especially in light of the international and internal pressures on the political parties to overcome the political stalemate.”
In an interview with AFP today, Maliki confirmed his commitment to running for the premiership and not withdrawing, noting that his nomination came as part of an agreement within the coordination framework. He also stressed the need to restrict weapons to the state and the unity of military decision-making, emphasizing his rejection of any attack on diplomatic missions in Iraq, despite American pressure on this matter.
According to informed sources close to the political decision-making center, Maliki realizes that his withdrawal will be interpreted as yielding to American objections, while the leaders of the framework fear that withdrawing his nomination will be interpreted as a response to the same pressure, which made the decision to resolve the matter costly internally for both sides.
Sources told Shafaq News Agency that this complication has disrupted official meetings of the framework in recent days, with consultations moving to side channels and mediation attempts to persuade him to back down without any party bearing the cost of a public concession, noting that leaders in the framework have begun discussing gathering a majority to vote to withdraw his nomination in a meeting expected in the coming hours.
The “coordination framework,” which includes ruling Shiite political forces in Iraq, is witnessing a division over the nomination of Maliki for the next government, amid American warnings of the repercussions of his selection, which prompted forces within the coalition to try to persuade him to withdraw in order to preserve the unity of the framework.
The escalating American pressure on Iraq comes as a translation of President Donald Trump’s explicit threats, which included criticism of the previous course taken by former Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, when he assumed the premiership during two consecutive terms between 2006 and 2014.
shafaq.com
