Maliki-Sudani rapprochement seeks to recalibrate Coordination Framework

There has been a steady stream of conflicting reporting in Iraqi media following claims that Prime Minister Sudani backed Nouri Al-Maliki for a return to the premiership during the Coordination Framework meeting held on January 10.

The immediate background to last week’s meeting lies in an impasse that emerged in December. At that point, the Framework was struggling to agree on a nominee from a crowded field of nine potential prime ministers. In an effort to break the deadlock, Framework leaders effectively delegated the problem to Sudani and Maliki themselves, conveying that if the two could reach an agreement between them, the rest of the bloc would be inclined to endorse the outcome. This was a notable step, reflecting both fatigue with prolonged internal bargaining and recognition that the rivalry between these two figures had become a main obstacle to progress.