Al-Nasr: intensive meetings underway to select prime minister

BAGHDAD — The Al-Nasr Coalition led by former Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi said Sunday that intensive talks are underway within the Coordination Framework to finalize the distribution of ministerial portfolios and agree on a candidate for prime minister.

Coalition spokesperson Aqeel al-Rudaini told the state-run Al-Sabah newspaper that “rapid political activity and intensive meetings” are continuing inside the Coordination Framework, with “specialized committees” already working on “studying and selecting the most likely candidate for the next prime minister.”

“This issue is likely to be resolved next week, with increasing indications that the nominees will be from within the Coordination Framework,” al-Rudaini said.

The developments come as Iraq enters the formal government-formation phase following the Federal Supreme Court’s ratification of the final results of the Nov. 11 parliamentary elections. Iraq’s president has issued a decree calling the newly elected Council of Representatives to convene its first session on Dec. 29.

Al-Rudaini said the Framework still has time under the constitution, arguing that “the Framework has a 60-day period to name the largest bloc, assign a prime minister, and form the government.” He said the immediate priority is settling the speakership of parliament and the presidency in the coming days.

Iraq’s president issued a decree calling the new parliament into its first session on Dec. 29, in the latest formal step after the Federal Supreme Court ratified the final results of the Nov. 11 parliamentary elections. Meanwhile, the Independent High Electoral Commission announced that Amer Al-Fayez, a member of parliament representing Basra, will preside over the first session of Iraq’s new legislative term as the oldest elected member.

The council said political forces must then elect a president of the republic within 30 days of the first parliamentary session. If the first session is held on Dec. 29, the deadline to elect the president would be Jan. 28, 2026. The president must then name a prime minister-designate within 15 days of being elected, which would set a deadline of Feb. 12, 2026, if the presidency vote takes place on Jan. 28.

Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani and Nouri Al-Maliki are currently the most prominent names being considered for Iraq’s next prime minister, according to multiple reports tracking developments within the Coordination Framework. Sudani, the incumbent prime minister, leads the Reconstruction and Development Coalition. He is seeking a second term, though there is no confirmed consensus on his reappointment.

Nouri Al-Maliki, a former prime minister and current leader of the State of Law Coalition, has formally submitted his candidacy and remains a central figure in the race.

The position of prime minister remains reserved for a Shiite politician under Iraq’s post-2003 power-sharing system.