ERBIL, Kurdistan Region of Iraq - Iraq’s Reconstruction and Development Coalition, the main victor of the recent elections, on Sunday reiterated the significance of a unified Coordination Framework for the country’s political stability, amid heightening internal disputes within the ruling Shiite alliance.

In a meeting chaired by Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani, the leader of the party, the coalition stressed the importance of concerted efforts and dialogue between Iraq’s political forces, in order to overcome “any minor differences” that might hinder the country’s progress.

“The attendees affirmed that a unified Coordination Framework is the solid foundation that supports political stability and establishes joint national action capable of confronting current challenges, both internal and external, in a way that guarantees the protection of the state's achievements and the interests of the Iraqi people,” read the statement.

The Coordination Framework, an umbrella bloc of Shiite parties, was formed in 2022, mainly to challenge Muqatada al-Sadr’s attempts at forming a national majority government. The Framework nominated Sudani for prime minister in October 2022, following the withdrawal of Sadr from the political process, and has been the main power-holder in the Iraqi government since.

The Reconstruction and Development Coalition’s meeting comes amid reported tensions within the Coordination Framework, as the components of the ruling alliance fail to agree on a single candidate for the country’s next prime minister.

In a televised interview on Sunday, Sudani said that his cabinet has been “subjected to the largest campaign of distortion and lies,” while noting that “converting the position of prime minister to a job is unacceptable and makes the government weak.”

Sudani’s bid for a second term has been recently challenged by other components of the Framework, mainly the State of Law Coalition, led by Nouri al-Maliki, which has tried to discredit Sudani by blaming him for the controversial and later retracted designation of Hezbollah and the Houthis as terrorist groups, and criticizing his endorsement for US President Donald Trump to win the Nobel Peace Prize.

As discussions continue between Iraq’s political forces regarding the formation of the next government and its leader, the Coordination Framework has shortlisted nine candidates for the next prime minister.

The list includes current Prime Minister Sudani, former premiers Maliki and Haider al-Abadi, National Security Advisor Qassim al-Araji, and intelligence chief Hamid al-Shatri.

Sudani’s Reconstruction and Development Coalition emerged as the main party in the country in the November elections after securing 46 seats, while Maliki’s State of Law Coalition won 29 seats in the recent elections, placing third.