ERBIL, Kurdistan Region of Iraq - A senior member of Iraq’s Coordination Framework said Saturday that the Shiite political bloc held a meeting at the home of former Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki to discuss unresolved issues and agree on joint steps for the next political phase.

Amer al-Faiz, a leading figure in the Coordination Framework, told The New Region on Saturday that the current political understandings aim to ensure the legislative process moves forward smoothly and without political dominance by any single party.

Addressing reports about the distribution of ministries and government portfolios, Faiz rejected claims of sectarian or partisan division at this stage.

He said decisions on ministries are tied exclusively to the selection of a prime minister, a step that has not yet taken place, describing talk of dividing positions as premature.

A member of the ruling body told The New Region on Tuesday that the Framework had shortlisted “three to four” candidates for the position, and agreed on the selection criteria for the prime minister.

Faiz also said the Coordination Framework has formed a special committee to review the so-called “points allocation” system and parliamentary seats.

He explained that the committee will submit its proposals to the bloc’s leadership, which has the authority to amend or reject them in order to maintain political balance, urging the public not to be influenced by rumors circulating on social media and instead rely on official statements issued by the Coordination Framework.

The Framework,normally holds meetings every Monday. However, Faiz said an extraordinary meeting is scheduled for Saturday ahead of the first parliamentary session of the new term of Iraq’s Federal Council of Representatives.

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 Mohammed Shia' al-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.