Al-Maliki: premiership bids must go through Coordination Framework

BAGHDAD — Nouri al-Maliki, former Prime Minister and leader of Iraq’s State of Law Coalition, said in an interview with Al-Rabiaa TV that “great competition has begun for the position of prime minister” as the country heads toward parliamentary elections in November.

Al-Maliki said that 10 names have been presented to him for his opinion on their candidacies. “I have not rejected anyone nor accepted anyone. Rather, we want this process to be organized through the gateway of the Coordination Framework, and whatever the Framework agrees upon, we will proceed with,” he stated. He added that only two or three of the hopefuls showed ability, while the rest “only have the desire. Desire does not mean that you will obtain the votes of the Framework.”

He stressed that candidates cannot move forward without the backing of the Coordination Framework. He added, “If there is someone who can step outside the Framework and form the largest bloc, let him step forward.”

The Coordination Framework is a coalition of Shia political parties that leads the current government.

On security and politics, Al-Maliki warned against efforts to delay the elections, saying, “Whoever wants that is aiming to strike the political process at its core.”

Excerpts from Nouri al-Maliki’s interview with Al-Rabiaa TV:

There is great competition that has begun for the position of prime minister, and we are on the threshold of elections, but so far what has been presented to me and asked for my opinion about are 10 people. These are the ones moving in an effort to become prime ministers, and I have not rejected anyone nor accepted anyone. Rather, we want this process to be organized through the gateway of the Coordination Framework, and whatever the Framework agrees upon, we will proceed with. Of the 10 I spoke about, I found ability in only 2–3 of them, but the rest only have the desire. Desire does not mean that you will obtain the votes of the Framework.

All of these 10, if the Framework does not embrace them, will not be able to proceed. This applies to Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani and to Al-Maliki.

If there is someone who can step outside the Framework and form the largest bloc, let him step forward.

The prime minister is not required to be a Shiite. The constitution did not stipulate this. But because the Shiites are the majority and their number in parliament is 183 seats, it is natural that they take on the nomination process.

There are clear things happening in the governorates and in the prime minister’s office. If we mention one, for example — and so that our brother Mohammed Shia will not be upset — but I have never heard of 8,600 letters of appreciation being distributed to people, and the same in the governorates. This is electoral propaganda. A letter of appreciation is for someone who has done distinguished work. So did everyone who received it in Basra do distinguished work? And Karbala and others?

Reconstruction works have taken place, but they are below the required level.

There are those working to postpone the electoral process, and surely whoever is working on that has an interest, but I do not know what it is. Even foreign countries are talking about it. But I say, whoever wants that is aiming to strike the political process at its core.

The fall of Syria encouraged some — not all Sunnis — it encouraged those who harbor sectarian feelings. But they do not constitute a threat to the political process, because the Sunni component rejects this logic. Sectarian rhetoric is the most prominent aspect of the process. There are others who think of taking action, of gathering in Syria and then entering Iraq again through Mosul and Anbar. Some also think of establishing a Sunni region, but they have not found a base among Sunnis to accept this.