Reconstruction and Development continues to back Al-Sudani for second term

BAGHDAD — Firas Al-Muslmawi, spokesperson for the Reconstruction and Development Coalition, said his bloc continues to support Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani.

“It is not in the interest of the Coordination Framework to weaken the next prime minister,” Al-Muslmawi said in an interview with Zagros TV. “We need a strong prime minister who can make important decisions to reform the economy, which is the next challenge.”

Iraq’s Independent High Electoral Commission last week released the final results of the Nov. 11 vote, confirming turnout above 56 percent and publishing the full distribution of all 329 seats.

Responding to claims about Iraq’s financial difficulties, Al-Muslmawi said, “Mr. Al-Sudani is capable of solving the problem. Let us take responsibility.”

He added that if the Coordination Framework rejects a second term for Al-Sudani, “there will be a meeting of the leadership of the Reconstruction and Development Coalition, and we will take a position that will be announced to our people.”

The Coordination Framework held its regular meeting on Monday in Baghdad to address constitutional and political requirements following the November 11 parliamentary elections.

The Islamic Dawa Party on Saturday named its secretary-general, Nouri al-Maliki, as its candidate for Iraq’s next prime minister, moving formally into the post-election contest for the premiership. Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani has also declared his intention to seek a second term.

Excerpts from Firas Al-Muslmawi’s interview with Zagros TV:

It is not in the interest of the Coordination Framework to weaken the next prime minister. We need a strong prime minister who can make important decisions to reform the economy, which is the next challenge.

To those who say Iraq is drowning in debt and that the next prime minister will face financial hardship, I say Mr. Al-Sudani is capable of solving the problem. Let us take responsibility.

If the Coordination Framework rejects a second term for Mr. Al-Sudani, there will be a meeting of the leadership of the Reconstruction and Development Coalition, and we will take a position that will be announced to our people.

The Coordination Framework today is not like before. Political forces within the Framework are now paying attention to public opinion. Reconstruction and Development has more than 1.33 million voters, and the leaders of the Framework will not ignore this point. These are the directions of society.

Our nomination of Mr. Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani for the premiership does not mean there is a veto against any other figure. The nomination of Mr. Maliki for the premiership is a good thing, but it does not block the path for Al-Sudani.