Iraq at a Crossroads: Negotiations Underway as Mohammed Shia al-Sudani Pushes for a Second Term

Iraq is entering a crucial political phase, as negotiations begin to form a new government following the 2025 parliamentary elections. The ruling alliance, Coordination Framework (CF) — dominated by Shiite parties — has formally declared itself the largest bloc in parliament and started talks with other political forces to build a coalition. Xinhua News+2Anadolu Ajansı+2

On one side stands Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al‑Sudani, who now leads the newly formed Reconstruction and Development Coalition (RDC). The coalition secured 46 out of 329 seats, making it the top vote‑earning list in the elections. Al Jazeera+2Anadolu Ajansı+2 By rejoining the Coordination Framework, al‑Sudani positioned himself within the dominant political bloc — renewing his bid for a second term as prime minister. Iraqi News+1

Despite these moves, al‑Sudani’s path to a second mandate is far from guaranteed. Some influential factions within the Coordination Framework remain skeptical: they worry that his growing influence could upset the delicate balance of power traditionally maintained among major Shiite parties. Iraqi News+2The National+2 According to analysts, many expect the CF to nominate a “neutral” candidate — someone with little independent power — to guarantee that no single leader becomes too dominant. The National+2The Soufan Center+2

Meanwhile, the Independent High Electoral Commission (IHEC) has completed much of the appeals and complaints process for the 2025 election results. So far, more than 400 appeals were filed; a majority have been resolved, allowing the commission to prepare the final officially certified results. rudaw.net+2pukmedia.com+2

As Iraq awaits the final ratification of the vote and the formal selection of government leadership, the coming weeks will be decisive. The upcoming negotiations will test whether political forces can forge a coalition that balances power — or whether internal divisions will lead to prolonged instability. The choice of the next prime minister, speaker of parliament, and president (the post given to a Kurdish politician under Iraq’s power‑sharing norms) will set the tone for Iraq’s direction in the coming years. Anadolu Ajansı+2Xinhua News+2