Iraq Shia alliance nominates former PM Nouri al-Maliki as its candidate

Al JazeeraCenterEN 2 min read 100% complete by Al Jazeera StaffJanuary 24, 2026 at 10:44 PM

AI Summary

short article 2 min

Former Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki has been nominated as the next premier by the Shia Coordination Framework in January 2026. The Shia alliance, which holds a parliamentary majority, cited his political and administrative experience as the reason for the nomination. Al-Maliki, who previously served as prime minister from 2006, stepped down in 2014 after ISIL seized territory. Despite accusations of fueling sectarianism and failing to stop ISIL, he has remained a powerful political figure, maintaining ties with Iran-backed factions. His nomination sets the stage for government formation negotiations, requiring management of Iran-linked armed groups amid pressure from the US. Al-Maliki's approval is considered vital for any governing coalition.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

Asaib Ahl al-Haq 40% State of Law coalition 40% Islamic Dawa Party 50% Shia Coordination Framework 60% Iran ×260% United States ×360% Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) ×370% Iraq ×580% Nouri al-Maliki ×590%

Keywords

nouri al-maliki 100% iraqi politics 80% shia alliance 70% prime minister 70% isil 60% government formation 50% sectarianism 50% iran-backed factions 40% political blocs 40%

Sentiment Analysis

Negative

Score: -0.20

Source Transparency

Source

Al Jazeera

Political Lean

Center (0.00)

Far LeftCenterFar Right

Classification Confidence

90%

Geographic Perspective

Iraq

This article was automatically classified using rule-based analysis. The political bias score ranges from -1 (far left) to +1 (far right).

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nouri al-maliki iraqi politics shia alliance prime minister isil government formation sectarianism iran-backed factions political blocs

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