Hakim and Amiri meet as framework misses constitutional deadline for PM nominee

BAGHDAD — Hikma Movement leader Ammar al-Hakim met Sunday with Badr Organization secretary-general Hadi al-Amiri to discuss political developments and government formation efforts, with Hakim stressing “the necessity of adhering to constitutional timelines and not exceeding them.”

Hakim called for maintaining unity within the Coordination Framework, which he said “presented an important political model during the previous period,” and emphasized the need to represent the largest component “in a way that reflects its entitlement and achieves the national interest of all Iraqi people.”

The meeting comes as Iraq enters what legal interpretations describe as a second constitutional breach, after the framework missed the 15-day deadline tied to President Nizar Amedi’s April 12 inauguration. The bloc has now postponed a decisive meeting six times over two weeks without agreeing on a candidate.

The Dawa Party maintains Maliki remains its official nominee and that his candidacy “has not been withdrawn,” while rival factions say eight blocs back incumbent Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani against four for Maliki. Basim al-Badri and Ihsan al-Awadi remain under consideration as alternatives. Maliki has faced mounting pressure to withdraw but has refused to do so formally, repeatedly absenting himself from framework meetings instead. Trump warned Washington could reconsider support for Iraq if Maliki became prime minister, with the Foreign Ministry citing an “explicit hint” of sanctions.