Attention turns to the upcoming meeting of the 'Coordination Framework' scheduled for Friday, the last day of the constitutional deadline to name a prime minister candidate in Iraq. This meeting occurs at a time when disputes among Shiite forces are intensifying regarding the selection mechanism and the final candidate, which threatens to plunge the country into a new constitutional crisis.
In this context, the 'Reconstruction and Development Coalition,' led by Mohammed Shia' al-Sudani, denied any American objection to his appointment for a second term, and also denied the proposal of Ihsan al-Awadi as an alternative candidate for forming the government. The coalition affirmed its commitment to al-Sudani as the 'only candidate.'
Details of the Event
The 'Coordination Framework' had decided to postpone its decisive meeting multiple times before officially announcing the rescheduling to Friday 'to allow more time for dialogue and to reach a result within the constitutional timeframe.' Member of the 'Reconstruction and Development Coalition' Mashreq al-Freiji explained that the disagreements within the 'Framework' are 'witnessing a hardening of positions,' noting that the proposal to adopt a two-thirds vote of the framework's deputies to select the candidate was rejected by Nouri al-Maliki. He added that about 114 deputies support al-Sudani's nomination, while about 50 deputies support al-Maliki.
For his part, the spokesperson for the 'Coalition,' Firas al-Muslmawi, clarified that the framework's leaders discussed adopting the principle of 'two-thirds majority,' but the disagreement remains over whether this is calculated from the total number of 'Framework' leaders or from its deputies in parliament.
Background & Context
Member of the 'Wisdom Movement' Hassan Fadham predicted that the final competition would be limited to al-Sudani and Basem al-Badri, while member of the 'State of Law Coalition' Zuhair al-Jalabi confirmed that al-Maliki 'has not officially withdrawn,' considering that his continued candidacy restricts the possibility of proposing other candidates. Deputy from the 'Sadiqoun Bloc' Saqr al-Muhandis stated in a press statement that 'the leaders of the (Framework) are heading to finalize the name of the candidate during the upcoming meeting,' indicating that 'the option of a compromise candidate remains on the table if disagreements persist.'
These developments come after Nizar Amidi was elected as President of the Republic, which activated a constitutional deadline of 15 days to assign the candidate of the largest parliamentary bloc to form the government, according to Article 76 of the constitution. During his meeting with al-Maliki, Amidi urged the 'Framework' forces to expedite the resolution of their candidate 'within the constitutional timelines,' warning of the implications of delays on political stability.
Impact & Consequences
The disagreement within the 'Framework' is linked to the definition of the 'largest bloc' and the mechanism for selecting the candidate, between relying on the decision of the framework's leaders or resorting to a vote among its deputies, who number around 185 deputies. There is also a legal debate about what could happen if the deadline expires without presenting a candidate, in the absence of a clear constitutional text addressing this situation.
Observers believe that failure of Friday's meeting to reach an agreement could return the country to a state of 'political stalemate,' placing the President of the Republic in front of complex constitutional options, at a time when Shiite forces face, for the first time since 2003, a sharp division that threatens their political cohesion.
Regional Significance
The political crisis in Iraq comes amid American pressures on Baghdad; sources reported that Washington halted a 'financial shipment' estimated at half a billion dollars that was headed to Iraq, and suspended parts of its security cooperation with Baghdad, in a move aimed at pressuring the Iraqi government regarding the actions of Iran-backed militias. Western sources also indicated that coordination between Washington and Baghdad is 'at its lowest levels at present.'
These events unfold within a broader context of political tensions in the region, reflecting their impact on regional stability and complicating the political landscape in Iraq.