President Barzani congratulates Maliki on prime minister nomination

President Barzani congratulates Maliki on prime minister nomination

Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani held a phone call with Iraqi politician and former prime minister Nouri al-Maliki, congratulating him on his nomination as a candidate for the position of prime minister, according to an official statement.

Support for government formation

During the conversation, President Barzani expressed his support for Maliki and wished him success in forming a new government capable of meeting the expectations of Iraqi citizens and addressing the country’s political, economic, and security challenges.

Response from Nouri al-Maliki

Nouri al-Maliki thanked President Barzani for the call and for his words of congratulations, expressing appreciation for the outreach following his nomination.

Coordination Framework announcement

The Shiite Coordination Framework announced Maliki as its candidate for prime minister after reaching a majority decision, citing his political experience and role in managing state affairs.

Parliamentary landscape

After the announcement of the legislative election results in mid-November, the Coordination Framework stated that it had formed the largest bloc in the incoming parliament, an essential step toward forming Iraq’s next government.

Maliki’s previous terms

If approved by parliament, Maliki would begin a third term as prime minister, having previously served from 2006 to 2010 and from 2010 to 2014.

Controversies during last tenure

Maliki stepped down in 2014 following widespread criticism over security failures during the ISIS offensive that seized large parts of Iraq, as well as allegations of corruption during his administration.

Next steps in government formation

Iraq’s political process now moves toward the election of the president, which must be completed within constitutional deadlines. Parliament announced it will hold a session to elect the president on Tuesday.