The leaders of the Shiite “Coordination Framework” failed to hold a meeting that was scheduled to decide on their candidate to form the new government. While the leader of the “State of Law” coalition, Nouri al-Maliki, is still officially the “Framework’s” candidate so far, he has begun to lose the “majority” within the ruling Shiite alliance that brought him to the nomination.
According to political analyst Haider al-Barzanji, the postponement of the “framework” meeting, which was scheduled to be held on Monday evening, came at the request of al-Maliki.
Barzanji, who is close to the Shiite political forces, stated in press statements that “Maliki’s condition of not nominating Al-Sudani or any former prime minister, in reference to Haider Al-Abadi, in exchange for withdrawing his nomination, is not binding on the framework,” indicating that “the Reconstruction and Development Coalition and most of the blocs included in the coordination framework have withdrawn Maliki’s nomination for the position of Prime Minister.”
He indicated that “the equation that produced the election of the President of the Republic will be the same in choosing the Prime Minister candidate,” suggesting “the existence of a compromise candidate for the position of Prime Minister.”
The “framework” had decided to nominate Maliki to form the government, according to the majority of its members, and has not yet officially announced the withdrawal of that nomination.
Among the most prominent Shiite political forces that supported al-Maliki's nomination was the "National Approach" bloc affiliated with the "Islamic Virtue" party.
Among the most prominent Shiite political forces that stood with al-Maliki’s nomination were the “National Approach” bloc affiliated with the “Islamic Virtue” party, and “Victorious” led by the Secretary-General of the “Sayyid al-Shuhada” Brigades, Abu Ala al-Walai. However, information provided by Saad al-Saadi, a member of the “Sadiqun” movement, the political wing of “Asa’ib Ahl al-Haq,” indicated that the two blocs had moved to the opposition front against al-Maliki assuming the premiership.
According to Al-Saadi, “We have no disagreements, no fragmentation, and no internal problems. There is consensus and agreement within the framework, and nothing prevents us from announcing the withdrawal of Al-Maliki’s candidacy.”
According to him, “During the next two days there will be a meeting of the coordination framework to announce the name of the candidate for prime minister, and the majority of political blocs, if not all of them within the framework with the exception of Maliki, support changing the name of the candidate.”
A member of the “Sadiqun” bloc, one of the most prominent opponents of Maliki’s return to power, also pointed out that “the issue of withdrawing Maliki’s nomination has become a foregone conclusion within the framework, and we are in the process of maturing discussions in order to agree on the name of a new candidate,” noting that “so far, there is no conviction or final agreement to withdraw the rest of the candidates’ names.”
He added that “the majority of the framework, including the approach and the victors, supported withdrawing al-Maliki’s nomination.”
He explained that “Al-Sudani’s name is being put forward for nomination along with Bassem Al-Badri, and there are other names being put forward, and the decision on the candidate’s name depends on the next meeting of the Coordination Framework,” stressing that “Al-Sudani and Al-Badri enjoy the confidence of the Asa’ib, as well as the rest of the Framework’s forces.”
The Shiite “framework” has three scenarios left to announce its candidate to form the new government, including a “compromise candidate”.
Salam al-Zubaidi, spokesman for the “Victory” coalition, told news outlets close to the “framework” that “completing the election of the president is a pivotal step in breaking the political deadlock, given that the position of president is linked to the process of appointing the prime minister, which requires the approval of two-thirds of parliament according to the constitution,” noting that “the political process has witnessed a deep and significant political impasse due to the failure to reach agreements between the political blocs, especially the disputes and divisions within the Kurdish component.”
He explained that “the constitutional article relating to the 15-day deadline after the election of the President of the Republic to appoint the Prime Minister is still valid and binding,” stressing that “all political forces, especially the framework, realize the importance of respecting this time period, which was emphasized by the President of the Supreme Judicial Council, Faiq Zaidan.”
He noted that “the framework meeting (which was scheduled to be held on Monday) was expected to determine the name and personality of the prime minister, despite the fact that there is no complete agreement yet among all the forces of the framework.”
According to Al-Zubaidi, there are several scenarios for deciding on the nomination of the designated prime minister. The first is to “find an alternative to Al-Maliki through consensus and voting within the framework meeting, while the second scenario is the possibility of choosing another figure other than Al-Maliki, Al-Sudani and Al-Abadi, considering that these three names were reduced in the recent meetings and the focus was on them, with the possibility of going to the option of the six remaining names out of nine candidates.”
The third scenario that is strongly considered involves choosing a compromise figure from outside the nine names proposed within the framework.
He added that “the third scenario strongly proposed is to choose a compromise figure outside the nine names proposed within the framework,” indicating that “all scenarios are still open for discussion within the meeting.”
Al-Zubaidi stressed that “the current data indicates that Al-Sudani has the greatest chances within the framework forces and its leadership for several reasons, most notably that he has the largest number of seats within the framework, and therefore he is the most deserving according to the language of numbers, in addition to the fact that he had previously conceded in favor of Al-Maliki, which may enhance the chances of his return again as a more likely option.”
He added that “some parties have nominated other names, including Bassem Al-Badri, but so far there is no consensus within the framework on this nomination.”
He pointed out that “Maliki may demand, in the event of his withdrawal, that the next prime minister be from the same Dawa Party or the State of Law Coalition, but this proposal alone is not enough, and requires the approval of all the forces within the framework to pass any figure.”especially the framework, realize the importance of respecting this time period, which was emphasized by the President of the Supreme Judicial Council, Faiq Zaidan.”
He noted that “the framework meeting (which was scheduled to be held on Monday) was expected to determine the name and personality of the prime minister, despite the fact that there is no complete agreement yet among all the forces of the framework.”
According to Al-Zubaidi, there are several scenarios for deciding on the nomination of the designated prime minister. The first is to “find an alternative to Al-Maliki through consensus and voting within the framework meeting, while the second scenario is the possibility of choosing another figure other than Al-Maliki, Al-Sudani and Al-Abadi, considering that these three names were reduced in the recent meetings and the focus was on them, with the possibility of going to the option of the six remaining names out of nine candidates.”
The third scenario that is strongly considered involves choosing a compromise figure from outside the nine names proposed within the framework.
He added that “the third scenario strongly proposed is to choose a compromise figure outside the nine names proposed within the framework,” indicating that “all scenarios are still open for discussion within the meeting.”
Al-Zubaidi stressed that “the current data indicates that Al-Sudani has the greatest chances within the framework forces and its leadership for several reasons, most notably that he has the largest number of seats within the framework, and therefore he is the most deserving according to the language of numbers, in addition to the fact that he had previously conceded in favor of Al-Maliki, which may enhance the chances of his return again as a more likely option.”
He added that “some parties have nominated other names, including Bassem Al-Badri, but so far there is no consensus within the framework on this nomination.”
He pointed out that “Maliki may demand, in the event of his withdrawal, that the next prime minister be from the same Dawa Party or the State of Law Coalition, but this proposal alone is not enough, and requires the approval of all the forces within the framework to pass any figure.”
