Shafaq News– BaghdadTwo leading contenders for Iraq’snext prime minister, caretaker premier Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani and State of LawCoalition leader Nouri Al-Maliki, have withdrawn in favor of Ihsan Al-Awadi,the director of Al-Sudani’s office, a source said on Saturday.The source told Shafaq News that backingAl-Awadi as a compromise figure would not affect the shares or positions of thevarious factions within the Framework, as he is not affiliated with any partyinside the Shiite bloc. However, bloc leaders have not yet been formallynotified of his nomination.The issue is expected to be raisedat the next meeting of Shiite leaders, the source explained. If consensus isreached, Al-Awadi would move forward as the candidate to form the nextgovernment; if not, the Framework will continue consultations to nominate afigure acceptable to all parties.Meanwhile, Mukhtar Al-Mousawi, alawmaker from the CF, told our agency that the bloc could oppose Al-Awadi’snomination, arguing that Iraq “needs a leader for this phase.”Al-Awadi’s role as an officedirector, he added, did not meet the requirements of the premiership, which “demandsexperience” in crisis management and handling regional and internationalaffairs.Since the ratification of theNovember 2025 election results, the Shiite Coordination Framework (CF),parliament’s largest bloc, has been holding talks to agree on a nominee for thepremiership. However, government formation hasdragged on months after the November 2025 elections, though
Najaf’s Fridaypreacher Sadr Al-Din Al-Qubanji earlier dismissed there being division withinthe CF regarding the matter.Under Iraq’s post-2003power-sharing arrangement, the presidency is reserved for a Kurd, thepremiership for a Shiite, and the speakership for a Sunni Arab.: Iraq begins 90-day countdown to form government as political fault lines re-emerge