Iraq's Maliki to run for third term

The outgoing Iraqi prime minister Nouri Al-Maliki will run for a third term in office following the Eid break, a leader in Maliki’s coalition said Sunday.

According to Khaled Al-Asady, a leading member of the State of Law Coalition led by Maliki, the coalition will nominate the latter as its candidate for prime minister if the Shiite National Alliance fails to name a candidate by the end of Eid.

In statements to Anadolu news agency, Asady said: “The National Alliance has ample time until the end of the Eid break to agree on a candidate for the prime minister’s position. In case it doesn’t name a candidate, the State of Law coalition will have to nominate Nouri al-Maliki as a candidate, in its capacity as the largest coalition in the parliament.”

He pointed out that the constitutional process will proceed regardless of the result of nominating Maliki. “All parties should respect constitutional procedures,” he said.

If Maliki succeeds in forming a government and gaining the parliament’s confidence, he will continue to lead it. Otherwise, the president of the republic should assign another candidate to form a government, Asady said.