Majority Bloc Backs Nouri al-Maliki as Iraq's Next Prime Minister

Iraq’s majority Shia parliamentary alliance has officially endorsed former Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki to lead the next government. The decision was announced in a statement by the bloc last Saturday (January 24), according to a report by AFP.

The ‘Coordination Framework,’ a coalition of Shia parties with close ties to Iran, stated that they have unanimously nominated Nouri al-Maliki for the premiership. Given their majority in parliament, he has been declared the "candidate of the largest parliamentary bloc." The statement emphasized that Maliki’s extensive political experience and administrative capabilities make him the ideal choice for the post.

The 75-year-old Maliki is a prominent figure in Iraqi politics, having served as Prime Minister for two consecutive terms from 2006 to 2014. According to Iraq’s political power-sharing system, the Prime Minister is typically a Shia Muslim, the Speaker a Sunni, and the Presidency is reserved for the Kurds.

Following the general elections last November, this coalition has been negotiating with Sunni and Kurdish parties to form a new government. After the upcoming election of a new President, Maliki is expected to replace the current Prime Minister, Mohammed Shia al-Sudani. However, his candidacy remains shadowed by past controversies involving allegations of corruption and sectarian tensions.