BAGHDAD, Iraq- Influential Iraqi Shiite leader and former Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki met with Sunni politicians on Thursday to discuss the possibility of forming the “biggest parliamentary bloc” amid Sunni efforts to enter the next round of Iraqi politics as a united front.
Maliki, who is the head of the State of Law Coalition and Iraq’s Vice President, met with Osamah al-Nujaifi the head of Iraqi Decision Alliance and Falih Fayadh, the head of the Ataa Movement in his office in Baghdad, according to a press release on the meeting from Maliki’s media office.
“During the meeting, the future of the political process, and the ongoing dialogue between national forces, especially with the near ratification of the results of the elections, were discussed,” read the satetement.
The three leaders discussed the necessity of speeding up the formation of a government.
“In the meeting the necessity to quick transition to begin constitutional steps related to announcing the formation of the biggest bloc within the national space that contains all national forces, holding the first session for naming the three presidencies and preparing a governmental program was reiterated,” said Maliki’s office.
Maliki’s meeting with the two Sunni leaders comes days after the results of the May 12 elections were manually recounted.
Maliki’s coalition did poorly in elections, diminishing his chances for a third term.
The Sunnis have held their own talks and formed the National Axis Alliance and seek to enter alliances as one voice.
The electoral results are yet to be ratified by Iraq’s Supreme Federal Court. Following its approval, parties will have 90 days to form a government.
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