DUBAI, UAE - An Iraqi lawmaker from the Coordination Framework has urged political leaders to pause plans to renominate Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani for a second term, accusing him of committing 18 violations during his tenure.

Yousif al-Kalabi, a member of the Badr Organization and the parliament’s integrity committee, released a detailed statement outlining the alleged missteps, many of which have sparked political controversy in recent months.

His call comes as parties intensify negotiations to form a new government following the November 11 parliamentary elections, with Shiite blocs competing heavily over the premiership.

Kalabi urged the Coordination Framework and the committee interviewing candidates for prime minister to question Sudani on what he described as major financial, administrative and constitutional breaches.

He accused Sudani of increasing internal and external debt, creating large and risky financial commitments for ongoing projects, and violating the federal Budget Law by failing to send the 2025 budget tables to parliament.

He also criticized the government for spending public money without proper authorization and for allowing the Council of Ministers to act with powers that exceeded constitutional limits.

The lawmaker questioned Sudani’s meeting with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa, which he named by his nom de guerre Abu Mohammad al-Jolani in the statement, despite an internal policy requiring Syria-related contacts to go through a committee led by the intelligence chief. Sharaa, a former jihadist, is wanted in Iraq under Article 4 (Terrorism).

He also accused Sudani of preventing Finance Minister Taif Sami from appearing before parliament, calling it a constitutional breach aimed at hiding serious financial problems.

Kalabi further cited misuse of public funds for personal and party gain, granting illegal investment exceptions, and signing an unclear water document with Turkey that he described as a serious failure in managing the water crisis.

He added that Sudani did not cooperate properly with parliament, failed to strengthen anti-corruption institutions, and oversaw one of the least transparent periods in sharing information with oversight bodies.

Kalabi also pointed to mismanagement of the oil sector, awarding contracts through exceptions, and giving a gas deal to a struggling Ukrainian company unable to provide a performance guarantee.

He said the government withheld provincial financial allocations, halting reconstruction while redirecting funds to undisclosed spending.

Additional accusations include withdrawing the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) law and the Civil Service Law, allowing his office director to select himself as ambassador despite already holding that rank, challenging PMF salary entitlements, and canceling the Martyrs’ Fund salary deduction before later imposing cuts to send funds to Syria, Lebanon, and Palestine.

Kalabi said all allegations are documented and that he previously invited Sudani to a televised debate, which went unanswered.

The MP said he is ready for a public debate before the Coordination Framework or the media.

Sudani has held the premiership since late 2022 and his Reconstruction and Development Alliance received the most seats in the recent elections.