AL-MALIKI MANEUVERS: “AN HONORABLE RETIREMENT” AND RESTORING THE GOLDEN AGE OF “DA’WA”. THROWING THE BALL INTO THE “FRAMEWORK’S” COURT… AND WASHINGTON BRANDISHES THE OIL FILE.
Nouri al-Maliki, the candidate for the next prime minister, has thrown the ball into the court of the “Coordination Framework” regarding the decision to replace him, just hours before a meeting described as crucial to resolving the crisis surrounding the selection of the new prime minister.It appears that Maliki has shifted his candidacy back to the Shiite alliance, at a time when data from the “Framework” indicates that two-thirds of its constituent groups, according to the majority definition within the alliance, still support the leader of the State of Law Coalition. This makes “withdrawal” the easiest way to end his candidacy.
Until recently, Maliki was clinging to the position, which he acquired as a result of what was described as a “sudden development”—one that he said personally surprised him—related to the stance of his political rival, Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, the outgoing prime minister.At the time of writing, the forces within the “Coordination Framework” were preparing to hold a meeting Wednesday evening, which sources told Al-Mada was expected to be “decisive,” either to proceed with Maliki as a candidate or to move towards removing and replacing him.However, informed political sources believe that Maliki will attempt during this meeting to obtain renewed confirmation that he is the “sole candidate,” given the difficulty of his supporters within the coalition backing down.
Simultaneously, Maliki’s nomination is facing increasing external and internal pressure. Washington is strongly pushing for his replacement, threatening to cut aid to Iraq, while the factions of Ammar al-Hakim, leader of the Hikma Movement, and Qais al-Khazali, leader of Asa’ib Ahl al-Haq, reject Maliki’s appointment as prime minister.In his first media appearance after being nominated, Maliki affirmed that he is “committed to this nomination until the end,” stating that “only the Coordination Framework will decide whether I continue or not, and it will decide on the alternative.”
It is worth noting that the Coordination Framework voted for Maliki for the first time since its establishment nearly five years ago, with a majority, amidst divisions within the coalition, and there have been no indications so far of a change in this majority’s position.Within Shia circles, there is a prevailing opinion that Sudani’s withdrawal from the race in favor of Maliki was a “political entrapment,” given that the State of Law leader is rejected by several internal and external parties.According to former MP Mishaan al-Jubouri, “Sudani withdrew after hearing from Savia, Trump’s envoy to Baghdad, who is the subject of much controversy, that Maliki would not succeed.”Conversely, Maliki, according to political sources, is relying on the position of former US envoy Zalmay Khalilzad, who informed him that he was “acceptable in Washington.”