2025-10-13T16:57:27+00:00
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Shafaq News – Baghdad
A senior member of Iraq’s Parliamentary Foreign Relations
Committee, Mukhtar al-Mousawi, revealed on Monday that several prominent
political figures are emerging as potential contenders for the premiership
after the upcoming parliamentary elections.
Speaking to Shafaq News, al-Mousawi indicated that political
negotiations over Iraq’s next government are already underway behind the
scenes. “There is ongoing talk within political circles about several
politicians being considered for the premiership once the election results are
announced — a process that could take significant time due to various
factors,” he explained.
The list of contenders, according to al-Mousawi, includes
State of Law Coalition leader Nouri al-Maliki, former parliamentarian Adnan
al-Zurfi, National Security Advisor Qasim al-Araji, intelligence chief Hamid
al-Shatri, former Youth and Sports Minister Abdul-Hussein Abtan, and current
Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani.
Al-Mousawi anticipated a particularly intense rivalry
between al-Maliki and al-Zurfi, highlighting al-Zurfi’s broad network of
domestic and international ties. He also noted that al-Sudani’s prospects for a
second term remain limited and could further decline, particularly if he meets
with controversial or widely rejected figures during his participation in the
Sharm El-Sheikh summit.
Read more: Baghdad: Ground zero in the battle for Iraq’s Parliament
A separate political source confirmed to Shafaq News that
the Coordination Framework, Iraq’s dominant Shiite alliance, is currently split
into two blocs — one aligned with al-Maliki and the other backing al-Sudani.
According to the source, a list of 12 candidates is currently being reviewed
for the premiership.
Parliamentary elections are scheduled for November 11, with
major political parties fielding senior leaders as top candidates in key
provinces, including Baghdad.
Profiles Of Potential Candidates For Premiership
Mohammed Shia al-Sudani
The current prime minister of Iraq, in office since October
2022, and founder of the Al-Furatain Movement, established in January 2019. His
party won one seat in the 2021 elections. Before becoming premier, al-Sudani
served as governor of Maysan (2009–2010) and held ministerial portfolios
including human rights, labor and social affairs, and industry and trade.
Nouri al-Maliki
Secretary-General of the Islamic Dawa Party and head of the
State of Law Coalition, which secured 33 seats in the 2021 parliamentary
elections. Al-Maliki previously served as Iraq’s prime minister for two
consecutive terms (2006–2014) and remains one of the most influential Shiite
political figures.
Adnan al-Zurfi
Founder and leader of the Al-Wafa Movement, and a member of
parliament from 2018 to 2021. Although his movement does not have a separate
bloc in the 2021 results, it has been associated with the State of Law
Coalition. A former governor of Najaf (2004–2005, 2009–2014), al-Zurfi was
tasked with forming a government in March 2020 but later declined.
Qasim al-Araji
A former senior member of the Badr Organization, al-Araji
currently serves as Iraq’s National Security Advisor (since July 2020). He
previously held the post of interior minister (2017–2018) and was a member of
parliament, where he sat on the Security and Defense Committee.
Hamid al-Shatri
A non-partisan security figure, al-Shatri heads the Iraqi
National Intelligence Service (INIS) as of 2025. He has previously held
positions within the Interior Ministry and the National Security Service,
gaining a reputation as a technocrat within the security establishment.
Abdul-Hussein Abtan
Founder and leader of the Iqtadar al-Watani (National
Capability) Movement, which won one seat in the 2021 elections. He served as
minister of youth and sports (2014–2018), deputy governor of Najaf (2005–2009),
and member of parliament (2010–2014). Abtan is seen as a centrist figure
promoting administrative reform.
Read more: CF on the brink: Disputes divide Iraqi bloc
