Nouri al-Maliki attends a public event in Baghdad accompanied by tribal and political figures in an undated photo.
State of Law official: Maliki will not withdraw over ‘a tweet from Trump’
BAGHDAD — A senior member of the State of Law Coalition said Nouri al-Maliki will not withdraw his nomination for prime minister, stating that only the Shiite Coordination Framework can reverse its decision or proceed to parliament without securing approval for his cabinet.
Jassim Mohammed Jaafar said in an interview on Iraqi News Agency television: “It is impossible for Mr. Maliki to withdraw his nomination. There are only two options: either the framework withdraws Mr. Maliki’s nomination, or it goes to parliament and fails to secure a vote on his government cabinet.”
“But to ask Mr. Maliki to withdraw and appear before the public as though he stepped aside because of a tweet from Trump — that is something Mr. Maliki will never do,” he said.
Jaafar said the coalition would support an alternative candidate if backed by a large majority within the framework. “Any alternative to Mr. Maliki that secures 80 percent support within the framework, we will stand with him. We do not intend to go into opposition and will participate in the government. But do not ask him to withdraw from a matter with which he was entrusted by the Shiite component.”
The Coordination Framework nominated Maliki as its candidate for prime minister following the 2025 elections. President Donald Trump warned in a post on Truth Social that Washington could halt support for Iraq if Maliki returns to office.
Maliki and senior figures in State of Law have repeatedly rejected calls for him to withdraw, describing the nomination as a constitutional entitlement. They have said stepping aside in response to external pressure is not an option.
Some excerpts from Jaafar’s interview on Iraqi News Agency (INA) television:
It is impossible for Mr. Maliki to withdraw his nomination. There are only two options: either the framework withdraws Mr. Maliki’s nomination, or it goes to parliament and fails to secure a vote on his government cabinet. But to ask Mr. Maliki to withdraw and appear before the public as though he stepped aside because of a tweet from Trump — that is something Mr. Maliki will never do.
Mr. Maliki did not want the nomination in the first place, and I swear to God three times — by God, he did not want it. The last time we met with Maliki, he said that given the financial situation and these complex political circumstances, who would want the premiership under such conditions? But afterward, he was formally entrusted with the nomination, and at that point a person must honor his commitment. The issue has been portrayed as though the entire Shia component is being threatened.
Any alternative to Mr. Maliki that secures 80 percent support within the framework, we will stand with him. We do not intend to go into opposition and will participate in the government. But do not ask him to withdraw from a matter with which he was entrusted by the Shia component.