Ex-Iraqi PM Nouri al-Maliki emerges as nominee for third term after Sudani steps aside

Nouri al-Maliki has emerged as Iraq's prospective Prime Minister after Sudani withdrew his candidacy, breaking months of political deadlock.

Iraq's Reconstruction and Development Coalition (RDC) announced Monday that caretaker Prime Minister Mohammed Shia' al-Sudani has withdrawn his bid for a second term and will support State of Law leader Nouri al-Maliki. 

This shift is intended to resolve the political deadlock within the Shia Coordination Framework, which, as a parliamentary majority, is entitled to the premiership.

RDC spokesperson Firas al-Maslamawi told Iraqi media the decision was intended to end the prolonged stalemate over the premiership.

"The purpose of the withdrawal was to break the political deadlock within the Coordination Framework regarding the prime minister position," Maslamawi said. He emphasised that the coalition’s leadership made this decision unanimously, not as a personal choice by Sudani.

He stated that the RDC prioritised national interests over partisan considerations and that the withdrawal was part of a broader political initiative.

In Iraq's November parliamentary elections, the RDC won 45 seats, while Maliki's State of Law coalition secured 30.  
Following these developments, Maslamawi urged Kurdish political parties to expedite the selection of a presidential candidate, calling it a crucial next step toward forming the new government.

Under Article 70, parliament elects the president by a two-thirds majority. If needed, a run-off follows. The president-elect then tasks the largest bloc's nominee to form a cabinet within a month. 

Since 2003, Iraq's main offices have been shared: the speaker to Sunnis, the prime minister to Shia, and the president to Kurds. Last month, parliament elected Haibat al-Halbousi of the Sunni Takaddum party as speaker.

Ghani Ghadhban, an Iraqi political expert, told The New Arab that reports indicate an agreement between Sudani and Maliki.

"According to what has been circulated by news agencies and on social media, there is said to be an agreement between Mohammed Shia al-Sudani and Nouri al-Maliki, under which Sudani agreed to relinquish his right to seek the premiership in favour of Maliki," Ghadhban said.

Ghadhban said Sudani sought to prevent rivals from exploiting the election results and the Shia rivalry to secure the top job. He said Sudani has supported Maliki in exchange for senior cabinet roles, including the foreign ministry. 

According to Ghadhban, Maliki has broad political support, including among Kurds and Sunnis.

"Maliki is pragmatic and pursues his own interests, and in return, he can concede many of the demands of the Kurdish or Sunni components," Ghadhban said.

However, he warned that Maliki's regional and international acceptability remains uncertain. "The announcement is still unofficial, and it is not yet clear whether there is approval from the White House, formally or informally," he said.

Ghadhban added that Maliki's stance on Syria's new political order and his strained ties with Gulf states could present challenges.

"If Maliki can overcome these issues, the process could move forward," Ghadhban said. "But if he remains rigid, refuses to open relations with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa, and does not correct his position with the Gulf states, these obstacles will remain, especially at a time when Iraq's relationship with Iran has become almost marginal due to US pressure and developments inside Tehran."

Maliki was Iraq's prime minister for two successive terms from 2006 until 2014, when the Islamic State (IS) group conquered a third of the country.