Coordination Framework to meet Monday to decide prime ministerial candidate

BAGHDAD — The Coordination Framework’s general secretariat on Sunday called for a meeting on Monday to decide its candidate for Iraq’s new prime minister, according to a brief statement.

The meeting comes as the dominant Shiite alliance faces mounting pressure to resolve an internal dispute that has dragged on since its January 24 nomination of former Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki. That nomination drew direct U.S. opposition — President Trump warned Washington could reconsider support for Iraq if Maliki were appointed — and has faced persistent reservations from factions within the framework itself. Names discussed as alternatives include current Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, though no formal agreement has been reached and Maliki’s nomination has not been officially withdrawn. Leaders within his coalition have said any change must go through the same mechanism used to select him.

The Dawa Party said Sunday that Maliki’s nomination “is still in place, as officially announced on Jan. 24, and has not been withdrawn so far,” and denied reports that Maliki had proposed an alternative candidate. It stressed that any withdrawal “belongs exclusively to the Coordination Framework, as the entity that nominated Mr. al-Maliki by majority.”

President Nizar Amedi, elected by parliament last Saturday, has 15 days under Article 76 of the constitution to task the largest bloc’s nominee with forming a government — a clock that is already running.