Maliki sidelined, throwing governing coalition into crisis after election of new Iraqi president

Iraq's choosing of a new president has exposed deep divisions within the ruling alliance, with growing indications that former prime minister Nouri al-Maliki is being pushed aside from the ongoing contest for the Iraqi premiership.

Nizar Amidi was elected as president by the Iraqi parliament on Saturday, a development that was expected to pave the way for the nomination of a new prime minister but instead triggered a fresh crisis within the pro-Iran Coordination Framework bloc, which holds a majority of seats in parliament.

Sources told The New Arab that support for Maliki has weakened significantly, with several factions withdrawing backing that had previously bolstered his candidacy.

Maliki is widely seen by regional and Western officials as closely aligned with Iran, reflecting longstanding political and security ties built during and after his 2006-2014 premiership.

Washington has repeatedly opposed his return as prime minister, citing concerns over Tehran’s influence and warning Iraqi leaders against backing his candidacy

His State of Law coalition’s absence from the presidential vote was widely interpreted as an attempt to pressure rivals and disrupt the consensus that enabled Amidi’s election.

Baha al-Araji, head of the Reconstruction and Development parliamentary bloc, said that "the Coordination Framework has not officially agreed on a candidate for prime minister", underscoring the lack of unity within the alliance.

He added that "there is a constitutional deadline of 15 days after the president’s election to appoint a prime minister", noting that the process remains separate from the presidential vote itself.

Araji also pointed to an emerging consensus within the bloc, stating there is "an agreement within the framework to exclude Maliki’s nomination in the next phase".

The dispute has been compounded by competing visions for the next government.

Hussein Moanes, head of the Huqooq bloc, the political wing of Iraq’s Kataib Hezbollah militia, said his group withdrew from the presidential session due to "a prior agreement to grant a second term to current Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani".

His remarks suggest that divisions within the ruling alliance extend beyond Maliki’s candidacy to the broader question of whether Sudani should remain in office for another term.

A source said there is a push within the Coordination Framework to convene a decisive meeting to select a new candidate, with decisions likely to be taken by majority rather than consensus.

The source said "a number of factions have withdrawn their support for Maliki, significantly weakening his chances", adding that "Maliki is still trying to exert pressure with all his political weight, but his moves are no longer effective, and his exclusion could be announced within days".

Analysts warn that the dispute could fracture the alliance that currently dominates Iraqi politics.

Saif al-Saadi, a researcher in Iraqi political affairs, said that "the election of the president… means that Maliki will not be the nominee of the largest bloc", warning that this "could lead to the Coordination Framework splitting into two competing camps".

The failure to agree on a prime ministerial candidate has delayed a step that was expected to follow immediately after the presidential vote, highlighting the depth of the crisis within the governing bloc.

The latest developments mark a continuation of months of political deadlock, during which disputes over the presidency created a constitutional vacuum that exceeded legal timeframes.

While the election of a president has resolved one aspect of the crisis, it has simultaneously shifted tensions to the struggle over forming a government.

With Maliki’s prospects fading and alternative candidates under discussion, including the possibility of a second term for Sudani, Iraq now faces a new round of negotiations that could reshape the balance of power within the ruling alliance and determine the country’s political trajectory.