Islamic Dawa Party Endorses Nouri al-Maliki for Prime Minister as Government Formation Talks Advance

Peregraf – The Consultative Council of the Islamic Dawa Party has unanimously agreed to nominate Secretary-General Nouri al-Maliki as the party’s official candidate for the position of Prime Minister, party sources confirmed on Saturday.

Al-Maliki arrived in Erbil earlier today for discussions with Massoud Barzani, President of the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP), as political negotiations intensify over forming Iraq’s next government. According to officials familiar with the talks, the coming week is expected to see heightened movement among political blocs as they work to settle on candidates for the three top federal positions: President of the Republic, Prime Minister, and Speaker of Parliament.

Media sources within the Shiite Coordination Framework say the bloc has shortlisted three contenders for the premiership. They include:

• Nouri al-Maliki, head of the State of Law Coalition

• Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani, the current caretaker Prime Minister

• Hamid al-Shatri, head of the Intelligence Agency (reportedly the National Intelligence Service)

The Coordination Framework is expected to select its final nominee for Prime Minister through an internal vote in the coming days.