Officially, the Coordination Framework nominates Nouri al-Maliki for Prime Minister
The Coordination Framework officially announced on Saturday evening the nomination of Nouri Kamel al-Maliki for the position of Prime Minister, as the candidate of the "largest" parliamentary bloc.
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The framework said in a statement received by Shafaq News Agency, “Based on our national responsibility, and keen to complete the constitutional entitlements within a context that preserves the stability of the country and strengthens the path of the state, the Coordination Framework held an expanded meeting of its leaders, in the office of Hadi al-Amiri, during which the political situation and the next stage were discussed.”
He added: “ After an in-depth and extensive discussion, the Coordination Framework decided by majority vote to nominate Nouri Kamel al-Maliki for the position of Prime Minister, as the candidate of the largest parliamentary bloc, based on his political and administrative experience, and his role in running the state.”
In his statement, he affirmed his "full commitment to the constitutional path and his keenness to work with all national forces to form a strong and effective government, capable of facing challenges, providing services, and protecting Iraq's security and unity," calling on "the House of Representatives to hold its session dedicated to electing the President of the Republic in accordance with the constitutional timelines."
The Sunni National Political Council had called on the Shiite Coordination Framework to bear "historical responsibility" and adopt the principle of national acceptance in choosing presidential candidates, warning against recycling failed experiences that were linked to political, security and economic crises, the control of terrorist organizations and the displacement of millions of citizens, in reference to the nomination of Maliki.
Meanwhile, the “Azm” and “Hasm” coalitions announced that what was stated in the letter addressed to the framework does not express the opinion of all members of the council.
Nouri al-Maliki’s nomination for a third term as prime minister comes amid political division, given that his previous term ended in 2014 amid major political and security crises that coincided with ISIS’s invasion of large areas of the country.
The nomination raised reservations among Sunni leaders, as the head of the Progress Party, Mohammed al-Halbousi, warned in a post dated January 19, 2026, against a return to "painful lean days," calling for consideration of "national acceptance," in a reference widely understood as an objection to the return of al-Maliki.
In contrast, the State of Law Coalition asserted that al-Maliki’s nomination enjoys “consensus” and “national acceptance,” denying the existence of a political veto against his name, amid concerns about the difficulty of passing any candidate who does not enjoy broad political and social acceptance.
MP: Monday's session will hold many surprises
Al-Saad told Al-Furat News Agency that: “Since the start of the sixth session of the House of Representatives, officials have stressed the commitment to the constitutional deadlines for deciding on presidential positions in a step aimed at ensuring the stability of the political process and strengthening confidence in institutions.”
Al-Saad predicted that Monday's session would witness "many surprises," stressing that "the candidates will be presented to the members of the council, and they will choose the most suitable one for the position of President of the Republic."
Al-Saad added, "In addition, the coming period is expected to witness greater activation of the role of parliamentary committees, as these committees will push important draft laws to the Speaker of the House for reading and voting, in order to ensure the completion of vital legislative files and to achieve tangible progress in the work of Parliament."
It is noted that the Speaker of Parliament held meetings with the political blocs to convene a session to elect the President of the Republic within the specified constitutional timeframe.
According to parliamentary sources, the session will be held either on Monday or Tuesday of next week, before the end of the constitutional deadline.
The seat of power... when geopolitics imposes Nouri al-Maliki as the last resort to deter Washington
Iraq is going through a very complex political phase, in which constitutional entitlements are intertwined with regional and international pressures, in the absence of full consensus among the main political forces, and Baghdad’s attempt to maintain its political and security balance amidst accumulating internal crises.
Haider Salman, a researcher in Iraqi and international affairs, confirmed in his interview with "Baghdad Today" that "the Iraqi political scene is witnessing a complex situation of entanglement and lack of clarity. Despite the fact that the Sunni component's entitlement to the presidency of the parliamentary system passed relatively smoothly, the file of the presidency of the republic is still stuck as a result of the continued disputes within the Kurdish house and the failure to reach an agreement so far."
Salman added that "the Shiite system, which is responsible for choosing the head of government, seems more stable this time, as the data indicates that the position of Prime Minister will go to Nouri al-Maliki, in a precedent that is the first of its kind, as this entitlement is taking place without any significant complications, in light of Muqtada al-Sadr's withdrawal from the political process."
The researcher in Iraqi and international affairs continued, “Iraq today is in the heart of a regional and international storm, as a result of the intensifying competition between the Eastern and Western camps on its borders and within its territory. Iran – supported by major Eastern international powers, representing an advanced stage of the intersection of Chinese and Russian interests – faces escalating challenges due to the ongoing American threats, in addition to economic pressures and attempts to weaken it internally and externally.”
Salman pointed out that “the continued escalation in the Syrian arena raises serious concerns within Iraq due to its direct repercussions on the internal security situation, especially since most of the terrorist organizations that were active within Iraqi territory had infiltrated across the Syrian border,” noting that “external pressures on Iraq are increasing through attempts to impose dictates and interfere in its internal affairs, especially by the United States.”
The researcher concluded by saying that "Baghdad is trying to adopt a balanced policy based on calming the parties and avoiding direct clashes, and in light of its preoccupation with its internal political, economic and security crises, it seems unable to engage deeply in external axes, contenting itself with trying to maintain its fragile stability amidst raging regional conflicts."
It is worth noting that Nouri al-Maliki served as Prime Minister for two consecutive terms between 2006 and 2014, a period that witnessed the peak of sectarian conflict, the rise of al-Qaeda, and later the emergence of ISIS, before his government ended amidst political and popular protests and significant internal and external pressures. Since then, al-Maliki has remained a key player within the Shia political establishment, leading the State of Law Coalition and later the Coordination Framework, while maintaining considerable parliamentary and political influence in the formation of successive governments.
The withdrawal of the Shiite nationalist leader Muqtada al-Sadr from the political process, along with the resignations of his parliamentary bloc and the rise of the Coordination Framework forces within Parliament, has redrawn the balance of power within the Shiite arena and opened the door for the return of traditional names to the forefront of nominations for the premiership, including Maliki, amidst fierce competition between regional projects to influence the shape of the next Iraqi government and its policies towards the files of Iran, America, Syria and the Gulf.
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The upward trend continues
The "golden knife" is slaughtering the poor... Who will stop "money laundering and dollar smuggling" with the blood of Iraqi youth's dreams?
Families in Baghdad and large segments of young people are complaining about the continuous jumps in gold prices in local markets, after a mithqal of 21-karat gold reached about 1.045 million dinars, amid a clear absence of governmental and regulatory measures, according to what citizens confirm in conversations with "Baghdad Today".
Abu Ahmed, a family man from Baghdad, told Baghdad Today, “On paper, anyone who owns gold today seems to be benefiting. A mithqal of 21-karat gold that I bought two years ago is now worth almost double the price. But this temporary feeling of profit hides a bigger problem, because the rise in gold prices in this way means the collapse of everything in front of it; marriage costs are rising, commodity prices are linked to both the dollar and gold, and young people are broken at the first step towards establishing a home.” He pointed out that “reports and common talk in the market say that gold is being used as a conduit for smuggling and moving hard currency, yet we do not see deterrent measures or real enforcement campaigns. Only a daily question is repeated in cafes and homes: Where is the oversight? And why is this chaos in the gold market not being stopped?”
For his part, Mustafa, a young government employee preparing for marriage, told Baghdad Today that “the costs of buying gold have doubled in a short period, and the dowry and the bride’s jewelry have become a pressing issue for young people and their families,” explaining that “citizens hear about decisions and committees, but what they see on the ground is a continuous rise, without a ceiling or controls, as if the price of a mithqal is moving outside of any government oversight.”
Despite these facts and repeated warnings, citizens confirm that they have not yet seen any real measures to curb speculation in the gold market or put an end to price exploitation, noting that the question is repeated daily on people's lips: Where is the oversight? Why is there no limit to this rise? And where are the measures that obligate markets to fair pricing and prevent the use of gold as a new outlet for smuggling at the expense of the livelihood of Iraqis?
Aircraft carriers and defense systems... The Middle East is overflowing with America's military arsenal, amid threats to strike Iran.
Tensions between the United States and Iran are escalating as the scope of US military movements in the region widens, coinciding with direct political and security messages from Washington suggesting a serious intention to resort to the military option if Tehran continues its current policies, particularly regarding the repression of protesters.
US President Donald Trump announced that a large military force is heading towards Iran, stressing that he is closely monitoring the internal situation there, especially in light of the recent protests.
On the ground, Reuters, quoting US officials, revealed that a US aircraft carrier strike group, along with additional military equipment, will arrive in the Middle East within days.
According to the data, US naval vessels, including the aircraft carrier Abraham Lincoln, destroyers, and fighter jets, began moving last week as part of strengthening the US military deployment amid escalating tensions with Iran. The deployment of additional air defense systems is also being considered, in a move that reflects US preparedness for possible escalation scenarios.
Iraq is likely to be at the center of the military escalation, especially since Iraq’s location and regional role make its being affected by the escalation almost inevitable, given that it hosts American forces on the one hand, and there are armed factions linked to the Tehran axis on the other. This overlap limits Baghdad’s ability to completely distance itself from the course of the crisis.
In the event of a military confrontation, Iran is likely to adopt a policy of indirect retaliation and distributing pressure points, thereby reducing the likelihood of a direct clash with the United States and increasing the cost of escalation for its adversaries.
First US welcome for al-Maliki's nomination for Iraqi prime minister
Former US Ambassador to Iraq Zalmay Khalilzad welcomed Nouri al-Maliki's nomination for prime minister on Sunday, describing it as a "strong choice" and wishing him and Iraq success. Khalilzad said in a post followed by Al-Matlaa:
US convoy enters Iraq from Syria via an “unofficial” crossing
Security sources in Nineveh revealed on Saturday that an American military convoy entered the province coming from Syrian territory, via the “unofficial” Al-Walid crossing in the Rabi’a district, northwest of Mosul.
The sources said that “the convoy included dozens of military vehicles of various types, which entered from Syrian territory through the Al-Walid crossing located in the village of Al-Mahmoudiya in the Rabi’a district, which is under the control of the Peshmerga forces.”
She added that “this crossing is unofficial and currently closed, and it was previously used during the battles to liberate Nineveh,” noting that “the convoy withdrew from inside Syrian territory and entered Rabia heading towards the city of Mosul without knowing its final destination so far.”
The sources indicated that the convoy’s entry coincided with the intensification of the field situation in Syria, which places these movements within the context of the ongoing military developments in the region, without any official comment being issued so far.
Conflicting reports emerged on Saturday regarding the extension of the ceasefire between the Syrian government and the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). While sources told AFP that an agreement had been reached to extend the truce for a maximum of one month, the Syrian Foreign Ministry denied the validity of this information.
The ceasefire has been in effect for days as part of a broad understanding between the government and the SDF, which includes completing talks on the future integration of Kurdish institutions in Hasakah Governorate into state institutions, following the withdrawal of the Syrian Democratic Forces from large areas in northern and eastern Syria.
CENTCOM commander arrives in Israel amid escalation scenarios with Iran
The commander of the US Central Command (CENTCOM), Brad Cooper, arrived in Israel on Saturday following a visit to the United States last week by the head of Mossad, David Barnea.
The Israeli newspaper Haaretz said that the visit of the CENTCOM commander was to coordinate in the event of a possible attack on Iran.
She added that "Cooper will meet with high-ranking officials along with the heads of security agencies."
This comes as many airlines have suspended flights to and through Middle Eastern countries, where tensions between the United States and Iran are raising fears of wider unrest.
A senior Iranian official warned on Friday evening that his country would treat any attack as an all-out war, saying: "We will respond in the strongest possible way."
In recent days, media outlets have reported on the increased presence of US forces in the region, including the US aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln.
US President Donald Trump had previously announced that a large naval fleet, including an aircraft carrier and several destroyers, was moving towards the Middle East region.
He continued: "We have a lot of ships heading there, and we'll see what happens... I'd prefer nothing happens."
An Iranian official explained: "We hope this military buildup is not aimed at a real conflict, but our army is prepared for the worst-case scenarios."
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