Will Maliki be Iraq's Next Prime Minister? Background Check
Nouri Kamel Muhammad-Hasan al-Maliki is a long-time Iraqi politician and leader of the Islamic Dawa Party and its State of Law Coalition. Born on June 20, 1950, Maliki became politically active in the 1970s opposing Saddam Hussein’s Ba’athist regime. He was sentenced to death in absentia under Saddam and spent roughly two decades in exile in Syria and Iran before returning after the 2003 U.S.-led invasion of Iraq. (Wikipedia)
After the fall of Saddam, Maliki rose through the ranks of the newly established Iraqi political order and was appointed prime minister in 2006, a position he held until 2014, serving two consecutive terms. His time in office was marked by efforts to consolidate central authority, but also by criticism that his policies exacerbated sectarian divisions, particularly between Shi’ite, Sunni, and Kurdish communities, and that he failed to prevent the 2014 Islamic State insurgency from overrunning large parts of the country. (Reuters)
Following his tenure as prime minister, Maliki served as vice president of Iraq at different intervals between 2014 and 2018. He remains a major political force through the State of Law Coalition, which secured 29 seats in the 2025 parliamentary elections, and as a central figure in the Shi’ite Coordination Framework, which has nominated him in early 2026 as its candidate for prime minister amid ongoing government formation talks. (Wikipedia)
Maliki’s leadership style has been described as politically shrewd and resilient, maintaining influence through ties to political parties, security services, and allied factions even after leaving the premiership. Though controversial, he is seen by supporters as a stabilizing figure who can navigate Iraq’s fragmented political landscape. (Reuters)
Stance on the Iraqi Dinar and Currency Value
There are no widely reported recent statements from Maliki specifically outlining a detailed policy on revaluing or adjusting the Iraqi dinar (IQD) in current political discussions. In general, decisions around the exchange rate fall under the Central Bank of Iraq’s authority, which sets official rates and manages monetary policy. (Wikipedia)
Historically, during his premiership in 2010, Maliki acknowledged that any revaluation of the dinar would depend on strengthening Iraq’s economic fundamentals, including increased revenues and economic development, and stressed that such changes should not be rushed and would require careful study by the central bank. (iraq-businessnews.com)
In more recent economic debates (e.g., 2024 reports), other Iraqi lawmakers — not necessarily Maliki himself — have openly criticized the government and central bank for their inability to stabilize the IQD, curb depreciation, and address gaps between official and parallel market rates, indicating broader political concern over currency management. (شفق نيوز)
Overall, while currency policy is a consequential issue in Iraqi economic discussions, official public records do not highlight a specific current policy platform from Maliki on dinar valuation or revaluation tied directly to his 2026 political ambitions. If he does support particular reforms, they would likely be expressed as part of broader economic stability and governance platforms once formal policy positions are released by his coalition.
Sources & Further Reading
Nouri al-Maliki biography and political career: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nouri_al-Maliki (Wikipedia)
Coordination Framework nominates Maliki as prime minister candidate (January 2026): https://www.kurdistan24.net/en/story/886463/coordination-framework-nominates-nouri-al-maliki-for-iraqi-premiership (Kurdistan24 - کوردستان 24)
Details on the 2025 Iraqi parliamentary election results and bloc formation: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2025_Iraqi_parliamentary_election (Wikipedia)
Historical remarks on Maliki on dinar revaluation (2010): https://www.iraq-businessnews.com/2010/03/01/pm-on-iraqi-dinar-re-evaluation/ (iraq-businessnews.com)
Central Bank of Iraq’s role in monetary policy: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Central_Bank_of_Iraq (Wikipedia)
