Nouri Al-Maliki, leader of State of Law Coalition
Maliki demands ‘respect for Iraqi will’ after Trump rejects nomination
BAGHDAD — Former Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki on Saturday called for “respect” for the will of the Iraqi people, following a statement by U.S. President Donald Trump opposing his potential return as prime minister, a position Iraqi political figures described as a “veto” on his nomination.
According to a statement published by al-Maliki’s media office, al-Maliki responded to journalists’ questions through the office’s online media platform regarding the tasking of the largest bloc with forming the government.
He said, “The political and democratic life in Iraq was born after a violent ordeal, great sacrifices and the blood of martyrs, until the values of democracy and the peaceful transfer of power became established at the federal level and in the governorates.”
The statement follows Al-Maliki’s meeting with U.S. Embassy Chargé d’Affaires Joshua Harris on Friday.
Al-Maliki added, “We take pride in this achievement and adhere to it, and we thank our people and political forces for their insistence on protecting freedom and democracy.”
He said, “The outcomes of successive elections confirm that the Iraqi people and their institutions responsible for building the state have drawn inspiration from the meanings of democracy, freedom and political partnership. From this standpoint, we affirm that we will not abandon this achievement, and we will not forfeit the right of the Iraqi people to choose whom they trust and see as competent to lead the next stage.”
Al-Maliki served as prime minister from 2006 to 2014. He secured a second term in 2010 but stepped down in 2014 under intense domestic and international pressure after the collapse of army defenses and the fall of Mosul to the Islamic State group.
Iraq held parliamentary elections on Nov. 11, 2025, in which voters elected the 329 members of the Council of Representatives, the country’s legislature. Following the elections, the Shiite Coordination Framework declared itself the largest political bloc in parliament, a status that allows it to nominate a candidate for prime minister, and announced Nouri al-Maliki as its nominee.
Al-Maliki stressed respect for what he described as the national will and independent decision, saying Iraq expects others to respect its choices as it respects theirs.
“Choosing our government and leadership is a national matter that must be respected, just as we respect the choices of others,” he said. “In this atmosphere, we look forward to establishing balanced political, economic and security relations with all regional countries and major powers, particularly those that have cooperated with us and will cooperate with us in the future, on the basis of partnership and mutual interests, away from any interference or negative relations.”
He concluded by saying, “Respecting our will, our democracy and the right of our people to choose their political system and leadership through constitutional institutions represents a firm principle for us, and we will proceed with adopting this will and will not retreat from it.”