Iraq has started the arduous process of deliberating on a new prime minister, with a number of both familiar and new names emerging as potential nominees. The Coordination Framework of Shiite-led parties forms the largest bloc in parliament, with close to a majority, though divisions within the group could delay the selection of a candidate.

Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani’s Reconstruction and Development list received the most votes of any in the election, securing 46 seats in the 329-member parliament. The State of Law Coalition, led by former Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, came in second with 29 seats. Other parties with more than 20 seats include the Kurdistan Democratic Party, the Sunni-led Progress Party and pro-Iran Shiite groups Sadiqun and Badr. 

The Coordination Framework, an alliance of Shiite political groups, met earlier this week and announced that the election had made them the largest bloc. Earlier this month, the framework announced the formation of a committee to interview candidates for prime minister. Parties in this group have approximately 165 seats, according to an Al-Monitor tally of the election results.

Sudani and Maliki are both key figures in the Coordination Framework, along with pro-Iran militia leaders Hadi al-Ameri and Qais al-Khazali, former Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi and cleric Ammar al-Hakim, among others.