2026-04-21T15:09:15+00:00

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Shafaq News- Baghdad

Iraq’s caretaker Prime Minister Mohammed Shia
al-Sudani, who also heads the Reconstruction and Development (Al Ima’ar wal
Tanmiya) Coalition, discussed with State of Law Coalition leader Nouri
al-Maliki mechanisms to break the deadlock over selecting a new prime minister,
a source told Shafaq News on Tuesday.

The talks examined two options within the Shiite
Coordination Framework (CF), the largest bloc in parliament with about 162 of
329 seats. One proposal involves an internal vote requiring the nominee to
secure an absolute majority of members, while another approach links selection
to the parliamentary weight of factions backing each contender.

Under the second option, the source said, the outcome
would depend on the combined strength of allied blocs supporting either
al-Maliki, whose bloc holds 29 seats, or al-Sudani, whose coalition holds 46,
with the candidate needing to surpass a two-thirds threshold, equivalent to
roughly 10 votes, within the Framework’s leadership structure.

Read more: Iraq’s premiership battle has already begun

If divisions persist, discussions may shift toward a
compromise figure with political and administrative experience capable of
addressing security, economic, and governance challenges while maintaining
international acceptance, the source noted, adding that both leaders align on
these approaches, which are expected to be presented at the next CF meeting.

The Framework again failed on Monday to agree on a nominee, with Bassem al-Badri
emerging as a leading compromise candidate, amid disagreements over cabinet
portfolios and independent bodies, including the Popular Mobilization Forces
(PMF), a source told Shafaq News.

Under Iraq’s post-2003 power-sharing system, the
presidency is held by a Kurd, the premiership by a Shiite, and the speakership
by a Sunni Arab. Parliament elected Nizar Amedi as president on April 11,
initiating the process to nominate a prime minister. The CF has 15 days to
present its candidate, after which the nominee has 30 days to form a government
and secure parliamentary confidence under Article 76 of the constitution.

Read more: Government Formation: The Constitution that cannot enforce deadlines