ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Iraq’s ruling Shiite Coordination Framework on Monday postponed consultations on naming its candidate for prime minister until Wednesday, a senior official from the alliance said, as deliberations over who will take the post - traditionally held by a Shiite - continue.
Abbas Radi, the secretary-general of the Coordination Framework, told the state-run Iraqi News Agency (INA) that the alliance of Shiite parties will “hold another meeting tomorrow, Tuesday, to continue discussions and reach a conclusion on naming a prime minister candidate by Wednesday.”
The remarks followed a high-level meeting of the Coordination Framework’s leadership held at the Baghdad headquarters of senior Iraqi Shiite cleric and Hikmah Movement leader Ammar al-Hakim.
Radi described the meeting atmosphere as “positive,” noting that it included “an exchange of viewpoints about the prime ministerial candidate,” but said settling the matter “requires more time.”
Iraq held legislative elections in early November, and in late December, parliament elected its speaker and two deputies.
Parliament on April 12 elected the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) nominee, Nizar Amedi, as president.
Under the constitution, once sworn in, the president has up to 15 days to task the nominee of the largest parliamentary bloc - the Coordination Framework - with forming a government.
Since Amedi’s election as president, the Coordination Framework has intensified efforts to select a prime ministerial nominee, though consultations have faced several postponements.
Earlier this month, Fahd al-Jubouri, a member of the Hikmah Movement, told Rudaw that the leading candidates include former prime minister and head of the State of Law Coalition Nouri al-Maliki (2006 - 2014) and incumbent premier Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani.
Another name being circulated is Bassem al-Badri, head of the Supreme National Commission for Accountability and Justice and a senior figure in Maliki’s Islamic Dawa Party, Jubouri added.
Meanwhile, Amer al-Fayez, head of the Tasmim Alliance - another faction within the Coordination Framework - told Rudaw last week that the 12-member bloc is also considering former prime minister Haider al-Abadi (2014 - 2018), former planning minister Ali al-Shukri, and Mohammed Sahib al-Darraji, a technical advisor in the Sudani-led government.