Maliki and Sudani meet as Coordination Framework prepares for meeting on next PM

BAGHDAD — State of Law Coalition leader Nouri al-Maliki received Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani at his office Tuesday, with both sides stressing “the importance of expediting the completion of the requirements for forming the next government,” as the Coordination Framework prepares for a Wednesday meeting to decide its prime ministerial nominee.

The meeting comes after the framework failed to reach consensus Monday, with Secretary-General Abbas al-Amiri describing talks as positive but saying more time was needed. The alliance faces deep internal divisions — the Dawa Party insists Maliki’s nomination stands and has not been withdrawn, while competing factions say eight blocs back Sudani against four for Maliki. A third candidate, Bassem al-Badri, was said to have faced a U.S. veto ending his candidacy, while Maliki’s own nomination drew direct opposition from President Trump.

President Nizar Amedi has 15 days under Article 76 of the constitution to task the largest bloc’s nominee with forming a government. The next government will be Iraq’s ninth.