ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Iraq’s ruling Shiite Coordination Framework is set to hold a decisive meeting on Saturday evening to finalize its nominee for prime minister, as political factions race against a constitutional deadline to agree on a candidate, according to senior political figures.
Ali al-Daffayi, spokesperson for the Islamic Supreme Council of Iraq, and Abu Mithaq Masari of the Badr Organization confirmed the talks, telling Rudaw that the Coordination Framework will meet on Saturday night to settle on a candidate for the position of Prime Minister of Iraq.
The meeting, scheduled for 8:00 pm, is expected to focus on two leading contenders.
“Both Ihsan al-Awadi and Bassem al-Badri are candidates for the Prime Minister post, and it is likely that one of them will be officially nominated,” Daffayi said.
The Framework initially put forward former prime minister Nouri al-Maliki as its candidate, but US President Donald Trump firmly rejected his candidacy, saying Washington would “no longer help Iraq” if he were elected.
Iraq held legislative elections in early November, and in late December, parliament elected its speaker and two deputies.
Parliament on April 11 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.
The chosen candidate must then present a cabinet and government program to parliament within 30 days for a vote of confidence.