The coordination framework between Maliki and Sudani: Will it resolve the competition or resort to a compromise candidate?
The coordination framework between Maliki and Sudani: Will it resolve the competition or resort to a compromise candidate?
12-8-2025
Information/Report…
The coordination framework continues its efforts to resolve the competition between the leader of the State of Law Coalition, Nouri al-Maliki, and the head of the Reconstruction and Development Bloc, Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, for the position of Prime Minister, amid widespread political anticipation, with expectations of the emergence of “white smoke” or resorting to the option of a compromise candidate in the event of the failure of a direct agreement between the two parties.
The position of Prime Minister is one of the most important executive positions in the country, and recent years have witnessed fierce competition between the major Shiite forces for this position, especially between the State of Law Coalition and the Reconstruction and Development Bloc.
This competition comes in the context of the Coordination Framework’s attempts to unite Shiite forces under one umbrella and ensure the selection of a figure capable of achieving parliamentary consensus.
Sources close to the framework and members of parliament within it confirmed that reaching a final agreement between Maliki and Sudani remains complicated, given the differences in their respective political strategies, in addition to attempts by some other forces to influence the decision, which makes the possibility of moving towards a compromise candidate likely if the deadlock continues.
The two plans adopted by the framework
Jassim Mohammed Jaafar, a leader in the State of Law Coalition and a former member of parliament, revealed that the coordination framework has two plans to determine the candidate.
Jaafar told Al-Maalouma that “Plan (A) focuses on resolving the competition between Maliki and Sudani directly, so that one of them is chosen as Prime Minister by consensus or by majority within the framework.”
He added that “Plan (B) will be activated if an agreement between them cannot be reached, and it includes a wider list of potential names, including the head of the Victory Coalition, Haider al-Abadi, Ali al-Shukri, and Asaad al-Eidani, in addition to other figures who may be put forward later to ensure the agreement of the various Shiite forces.”
Jaafar pointed out that “the framework formed a committee of three leaders to present one or more figures to fill the position of Prime Minister, with a vote to be held later within the framework, either by consensus or majority, to ensure a middle ground settlement in the event that direct competition cannot be decided.”
Political stakes and expectations
Observers believe that the biggest challenge for the coordination framework lies in reconciling the ambitions of Maliki and Sudani on the one hand, and the interests of other Shiite forces that may influence parliament on the other. At the same time, some point out that resorting to a compromise candidate could alleviate political tension and spare the framework from facing internal attrition that could harm political stability.
This political context unfolds amidst an atmosphere of anxiety within the Iraqi public, which is awaiting the political forces’ moves regarding the selection of a prime minister, while popular demands call for consensus-based solutions that ensure the government’s work is not disrupted or that reform and development projects are not hindered.
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