Iraq’s largest bloc postpones prime minister nominee decision for third time

Iraq’s largest parliamentary bloc, the Coordination Framework, postponed a meeting from Friday to Saturday to decide on a nominee for prime minister, marking the third delay this week, according to the Iraqi News Agency (INA).

The third postponement came after the bloc delayed the meeting from Monday to Wednesday, then to Friday, before pushing it to Saturday.

Shortly before announcing the delay, the INA reported that the Coordination Framework held a meeting at the office of the Supreme Islamic Council head Humam Hamoudi in Baghdad to decide on the nominee for prime minister.

According to Article 76 (A) of the Constitution, the president must assign the candidate of the largest parliamentary bloc to form a government within 15 days of his election.

The Coordination Framework is considered the largest bloc in parliament, holding around 130 to 140 seats out of 329, based on recent election results.

The alliance, the most prominent Shiite political coalition in Iraq, plays a central role in selecting the prime minister and forming the government.

On Jan. 24, it announced the nomination of Nouri al-Maliki for the premiership.

That nomination has faced opposition from US President Donald Trump, however, who has urged Iraq not to appoint him to the post.

*Writing by Rania Abushamala in Istanbul