ERBIL, Kurdistan Region of Iraq - A source within Iraq's ruling Coordination Framework said that the umbrella group has closed the nomination period for budding prime minister hopefuls, with 45 individuals having submitted their candidacy to the committee tasked with reviewing applicants.

The Framework reportedly established an internal committee, heading by National Wisdom Movement leader Ammar al-Hakim, to determine the eligibility of possible premiership candidates, availing of a specific criteria that assesses an applicants based on their five priorities should they win the position and a detailed implementation plan for these goals.

The source, speaking on condition of anonymity, told The New Region that the committee "categorically" rejected any candidates who failed to present such a vision.

A November 24 meeting of Framework officials saw participants agree "competence, integrity, and the ability to manage the state" comprise the core standards that any premier must embody to be selected.

An amalgam of Shiite parties, the Framework has been headed by incumbent premier Mohammed Shia' al-Sudani, whose Reconstruction and Development Alliance emerged as the most popular party in the recent election results.

Despite his party's success, sources within the congolmerate have cast doubt on internal support for Sudani to pursure a second term, with Zuhair al-Jalabi of the State of Law Coalition telling The New Region earlier in November that his chances are "very low" owing to his previous embroilment in a wiretapping scandal, which the premier called "the lie of the century," and accusations that blocs were dismantled and MPs removed through what he termed "intimidation and inducement."

A source within the Framework previously told The New Region of ten candidates in the running for the premiership, entailing: Sudani, former Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi, National Security Advisor Qasim al-Araji, intelligence chief Hamid al-Shatri, Basra Governor Asaad al-Eidani, head of the Iraqi president’s advisors Ali Shukri, Chairman of Iraq’s National Commission for Justice and Accountability Basim al-Badri, former Communications Minister Mohammed Tawqif Allawi, former Youth and Sports Minister Abdul Hussein Abtan, and Abdul Ilah al-Naeli, head of Iraq’s Martyrs’ Foundation. 

The senior source told The New Region that the Framework intends to select three candidates to present them to other political forces for feedback before a final candidate is agreed upon and consensus is reached.  

Nouri al-Maliki was officially nominated in mid-November by the Islamic Dawa Party as its candidate for Iraq’s next prime minister.

His State of Law Coalition won 29 seats in the recent elections, placing third behind Sudani’s bloc with 46 seats and Mohammed al-Halbousi’s Taqadum Party and its allies with 36.