On January 24 the ruling Coordination Framework formally announced Nouri al-Maliki as its candidate for prime minister. If Maliki were to successfully become PM again this would be a surprising turn of events for a politicians who used the government to go after his opponents, was thoroughly corrupt, and was responsible for the fall of Mosul to the Islamic State. It once again shows how Iraq’s ruling class is completely bankrupt and only cares about its self-preservation.
At first the ruling Coordination Framework said it was considering a range of candidates to be the next premier but then quickly admitted the race was only between current Premier Mohammed Sudani and Maliki.
In early January Sudani issued an ultimatum either the Framework selected him or he would back Maliki. This led to much speculation in the Iraqi media that the current premier was trying to set a trap for Maliki.
He is widely unpopular because he became an autocrat in his second term using the security forces against his opponents, issuing a death sentence for Vice President Tariq al-Hashemi on terrorism charges and accusing Finance Minister Rafi Issawi of the same thing. He sent the army into the disputed territory to challenges the Kurds and removed Kurdish officers from units. He was also blamed for the 2014 fall of Mosul to the Islamic State because of his hollowing out of the security forces so that he could place loyalists in the ranks that would serve him. Because of that he has many opponents from Muqtada al-Sadr to the religious establishment in Najaf. The press believed that Sudani wanted to make Maliki the only candidate so he would fail then the PM would be able to maintain his job.
If that theory were true it is not working out so far. For one, longtime foe Sadr sent a message that he does not object to Maliki. He has also been able to win support of others such as Hadi Amiri and his Badr party. The only ones openly against Maliki are Ammar Hakim of Hikma and Qais Khazali of Asaib Ahl Al-Haq.
This brings up another possibility. Perhaps Sudani made a deal with Maliki. The latter would return as premier while the former would gain top positions in the new government. Al Alam for instance, reported that Maliki agreed to give Sudani’s list the director of the prime minister’s office and three ministries including either Finance of Oil.
How this plays out is still yet to be determined. Maliki’s bid could fail and Sudani could come out the winner or Maliki may get his much desired third term. What’s more important is this shows how short sighted the ruling parties are. They know how Maliki rules like a dictator and they are still willing to consider him. All they are thinking about is getting positions in the new government so that they can rob the state. If Maliki were to become an autocrat again they will just deal with it in the future. Preservation of their power and the system of quotas for the elite are all that matter. Preserving the kleptocracy is their driving motivation.
SOURCES
Agence France Presse, “Iraq majority bloc backs Nouri al-Maliki as next PM. Statement,” 1/24/26
Al Alam, “Al Alam Sources: Framework Leaders Shocked by Maliki’s Nomination … Al-Hakim Leads the Opposition with a Najaf “Veto”” 1/11/26
- “The Framework Agrees “Unanimously” on Al-Maliki, and the Sadrist Movement Breaks the “Veto” in a Message to Al-Amiri,” 1/14/26
- “A New Alliance Shakes the Framework: Al-Alam Al-Jadded Reveals the Precise Details of the Maliki-Sudani Deal,” 1/12/26
Al Mada, “A controversial history returns: What does the third version of Maliki hold?” 1/19/26
- “The Framework is divided: Al-Hikma and Asa’ib are against Al-Maliki, and Badr is waiting,” 1/13/26x
- “A tactical concession or a knockout blow? How ddi Sudani trap Maliki within the Framework?” 1/12/26
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