The Supreme Judicial Council announced that it will not interfere in the nomination of any individual for the position of Prime Minister, considering the inclusion of its president, Judge Faiq Zaidan's, name in the endorsement or nomination of specific individuals an attempt to undermine the judiciary.
In a clarifying statement issued on Saturday, January 3, 2026, the Council said, "With the commencement of the constitutional deadlines for selecting a candidate for the position of Prime Minister, it has been observed that some political entities and figures vying for this position are involving the name of the President of the Supreme Judicial Council in the endorsement or nomination of specific individuals. These individuals are using anonymous media outlets to spread these rumors in order to undermine the judiciary."
The statement explained that this attempt is being made "through the dissemination of false information aimed at undermining the judiciary and weakening the chances of their rivals in reaching the position of Prime Minister."
The Council emphasized its adherence to its clarification issued on November 27, 2025, that "the judiciary does not interfere in the nomination of any specific individual," explaining that this is "not within its jurisdiction."
The Council pledged to "take legal action against anyone who violates the law by undermining the constitutionally independent authority of the judiciary."
The Coordination Framework forces remain divided on a candidate for the Iraqi prime ministership, as Nouri al-Maliki, head of the State of Law Coalition, refuses to back down from his nomination of Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, head of the Reconstruction and Development Coalition. Al-Sudani, for his part, rejects any other compromise solutions.
Bahaa al-Araji, the winning candidate from the Reconstruction and Development Coalition headed by Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, told Rudaw Media Network that there are two main candidates for the prime ministership: Mohammed Shia al-Sudani and Nouri al-Maliki.
Regarding the selection process, al-Araji explained that "the Coordination Framework will determine the candidate, either through consensus or by vote."
It is worth noting that the Speaker of the Iraqi Parliament, Haibat al-Halbousi, opened nominations for the presidency on Tuesday for a three-day period.
According to the constitution, parliament must elect a president within 15 days, after which the president will task the largest parliamentary bloc with nominating the new prime minister.
Supreme Judiciary: We did not interfere in the nomination of any particular person for the premiership.
