Iraq’s dominant political bloc on Saturday nominated former prime minister Nouri al-Maliki as its candidate for prime minister, after caretaker Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani stepped aside earlier this month. The selection is likely to be polarizing among Iraq’s Sunni community, given al-Maliki’s earlier accusations of monopolizing power and alienating Sunni and Kurdish minorities.
Al-Maliki’s nomination sets the stage for a government navigating competing international pressures: the United States is pushing Iraq to disarm Iran-backed armed groups, while Iran opposes such action. The challenge will test the incoming government’s ability to balance regional interests against domestic political realities and security concerns.
Political Realignment in Baghdad
Al-Maliki’s trajectory illustrates Iraq’s deep factional divisions. He first became prime minister in 2006 and won reelection to a second term, making him the only Iraqi prime minister to serve two consecutive terms since the 2003 U.S.-led invasion that toppled Saddam Hussein. His previous attempt for a third term stalled after critics accused him of monopolizing power and alienating the country’s Sunni and Kurdish minorities.
Divided Sunni Response
The nomination is drawing sharply divided responses from Iraq’s Sunni political leadership. The National Political Council, a coalition of Sunni parties, called on the Coordination Framework to assume “historical responsibility.” The council also warned against recycling leaders “whose past experiences have failed” to achieve stability or restore public trust in government institutions. However, the Sunni Azm Alliance, an influential Sunni party, rejected that council’s position and voiced support for al-Maliki. The divergence among Sunni factions mirrors broader political fractures within Iraq.
Constitutional Process Underway
Under Iraq’s constitution, parliament must first elect a president, who then nominates a prime minister tasked with forming a new government. The Coordination Framework called on parliament to convene for that process, citing al-Maliki’s political and administrative experience.
International Pressures and Strategic Challenges
The incoming government will face significant external pressure. The United States has been pushing Iraq to disarm Iran-backed armed groups—a difficult proposition given the political influence many of these groups hold and Iran’s likely opposition to such action. Some of the groups fought the Islamic State when it swept across Iraq a decade ago and maintain considerable armed capacity and political standing.
That pressure intensified this week. The U.S. military said it started transferring some of the approximately 9,000 Islamic State detainees held in detention centers in northeast Syria to Iraqi custody. The move signals the stakes surrounding both the remnants of the Islamic State and the broader question of militias operating beyond direct state control—issues the new government will have to navigate while managing international relationships and domestic political realities.