Maliki in an interview: “Iraq’s electoral law is deeply unfair.”
President Masoud Barzani and Nouri al-Maliki, head of the State of Law Coalition, discussed Iraq’s political landscape, regional dynamics, and the post-election phase and stressed consensus-driven governance during a meeting.
According to a statement from the Barzani Headquarters, on Saturday, November 22, 2025, in Pirmam, President Masoud Barzani received Nouri al-Maliki, leader of the State of Law Coalition.
During the meeting, both sides reviewed the outcome of the Iraqi parliamentary elections and the post-election process, emphasizing that the results must ultimately serve the Iraqi people.
The discussion also covered Iraq’s political situation and regional developments. Both sides agreed on the need to continue exchanging views and ensuring coordination among political actors engaged in Iraq’s political process.
This meeting came on the same day that Al-Rabiaa media published a report stating that the Shura Council of the Islamic Dawa Party had unanimously decided to formally nominate Nouri al-Maliki, the party’s secretary-general, as its official candidate for the post of Prime Minister.
Also on Saturday, November 22, 2025, Masrour Barzani, Prime Minister of the Kurdistan Region, received Nouri al-Maliki, head of the State of Law Coalition.
According to the Kurdistan Regional Government’s statement, the meeting discussed Iraq’s general situation after the parliamentary elections and ongoing political talks to form a new federal cabinet.
The statement said both sides agreed on the importance of resolving issues between the Kurdistan Region and the federal government based on the Constitution and prior agreements.
On the same day, Nouri al-Maliki, head of the State of Law Coalition, said: “Government formation depends on consensus, and a government can be formed within one month after ratifying the election results.” He stressed, “Kurds should accelerate the election of the President of Iraq, and Sunnis should choose the Speaker of Parliament.”
Maliki criticized Iraq’s election law, saying: “Iraq’s electoral law is deeply unfair, and its most obvious flaw is the single-nontransferable-vote system.” He called for “a review of the election law in light of the results.”
Regarding the Kurdish situation, Maliki said: “Kurds paid a heavy price under the former Ba’ath regime,” emphasizing that “disputes between the Kurdistan Region and Baghdad should not be resolved through temporary agreements but through the law.”
Speaking about the post-election phase, Maliki said: “The post-election political process requires me to visit Erbil to address many complications.” He added that forming the next government “depends on agreement and could be completed within a month after certification of the results.”
The Kurdish Globe