AL-MALIKI: TRUMP WAS MISLED ABOUT ME AND I AM READY TO WITHDRAW THE NOMINATION WITH A MAJORITY VOTE.
(Isn’t there a medical term for this kind of thinking from a pathological liar?)
On Tuesday evening, Nouri al-Maliki, head of the State of Law Coalition and the Coordination Framework’s candidate for the position of next Prime Minister, revealed new details regarding the American rejection and what followed President Donald Trump’s tweet about his candidacy for the position, confirming his readiness to concede on certain conditions.
Al-Maliki said in an interview on Al-Sharqiya channel, which was monitored by Shafaq News Agency, that he is an Iraqi citizen and his nomination for the position of Prime Minister of Iraq was made by an Iraqi institution, namely the “Coordination Framework”, and therefore it is not possible for him to withdraw at the request of a foreign country.
He added that Trump was misled against his candidacy for a third term by three countries and domestic parties, adding: “I heard that the tweet was written here, but I haven’t confirmed this yet.”
Al-Maliki pointed out that his candidacy would not expose Iraq to economic sanctions by the United States, noting that this matter is being promoted in order to push for abandoning this candidacy.
According to the head of the State of Law Coalition, he would be prepared to give up his candidacy for prime minister, if this were done at the request of the majority of the coordinating framework.
Regarding the new Syria, Maliki stated that “Iraq will be ready to cooperate with President Ahmed al-Sharaa, and that the Syrian and Iraqi peoples are brothers,” adding: “If al-Sharaa keeps Damascus free from terrorism and pushes the terrorists towards Baghdad, then we will have a close relationship in the coming days.”
On Saturday, Nouri al-Maliki, leader of the State of Law Coalition, reiterated his commitment to running for the position of Prime Minister in the next government, despite American opposition to this, stressing that the selection of the Prime Minister is a national matter subject to the will of the people and constitutional institutions.
On Saturday evening, the Coordination Framework reiterated its support for its candidate, Nouri al-Maliki, for the premiership, stressing that the selection of the Prime Minister is a purely Iraqi constitutional matter, conducted without external dictates.
The framework seeks to unify its position on the issue of the prime ministership in light of the American objection to the nomination of Nouri al-Maliki, and to explore political options to overcome these complications and ensure the continuation of the political process.
It is worth noting that US President Donald Trump said last Tuesday, via a post on the “Truth Social” platform, that the return of former Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki to the premiership is “something that should not be allowed,” considering that Iraq “slid into poverty and chaos” during his previous term.
