ERBIL, Kurdistan Region of Iraq - Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani recently missed a critical meeting of the ruling Coordination Framework, with an analyst suggesting this is indicative of internal tensions within the alliance, while Framework officials dismiss his absence as routine.

The meeting coincided with the fifth anniversary of the coalition’s formation on November 3, where they discussed potential restrictions on future prime ministers, including term limits of four years and a prohibition on forming parties while in office and within four years of leaving office, which would bind future premiers for another 15 years, an informed source told The New Region.

Issam al-Karaiti, a member of the State of Law Coalition led by former Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, described Sudani's absence as routine.

"Prime Minister Mohammed Shia' al-Sudani's non-attendance at the latest Coordination Framework forces meeting is a natural matter and does not carry any political implications," Karaiti told The New Region, citing scheduling conflicts and electoral commitments.

Kairiti added that the ruling alliance considered requiring future prime ministers to be independent of electoral blocs “to ensure greater independence in decision-making and strengthen the principle of separation between executive power and party work.”

Political researcher Abbas al-Jubouri offered a different perspective, saying Sudani’s absence in the meeting showed “escalating tension among Framework forces” ahead of the elections.

“Sudani's absence from the Framework meeting cannot be considered merely a matter of protocol or due to prior commitments,” Jubouri said, adding that the Framework parties are attempting to impose conditions on coming prime ministers regarding cabinet selection and control of economic and security portfolios.

The analyst said Sudani is trying to stay independent from party influence, especially as some want to keep him in office, warning that more pressure on the premier may push him to reconsider his political and electoral calculations.

He warned that the country faces a sensitive political moment that requires dialogue; “otherwise the stability of the political process will be subject to challenges as the election date approaches.”

The Coordination Framework is an umbrella of Iran-backed Shiite parties that came into power in 2022. The coalition holds around 130 seats in parliament and formed the cabinet under Sudani the same year.

Iraq’s parliamentary elections are scheduled for November 11.

Campaigning for the federal parliamentary elections began on October 10, with over 7,750 candidates competing for the 329 seats allocated across the provinces under a proportional representation system. 

The electoral silence period is slated for November 8 at 7 am, and electoral campaigns must be immediately halted afterwards.

Special voting is scheduled to take place a day after the silence period, where special forces and members of security services will cast their votes.

Iraq’s last parliamentary elections in October 2021 saw a record low turnout amid widespread public frustration.