Iraqian President Names Shia Bloc Candidate Ali Al-Zaidi as Potential Prime Minister

Iraqi President Nizar Amedi Appoints Ali al-Zaidi as Prime Minister-Designate

In a move to break a months-long deadlock, Iraqi President Nizar Amedi has named Ali al-Zaidi as the country’s new prime minister-designate. Al-Zaidi was chosen by the Coordination Framework coalition, which holds a majority in parliament, after a meeting in Baghdad on Monday.

According to a statement released by the Coordination Framework, al-Zaidi was selected as the candidate due to his economic background and connections in the business and investment sectors. He has not previously held political office and will now have 30 days to present a cabinet to parliament, with 167 votes required to secure a vote of confidence.

Al-Zaidi’s appointment comes after a period of uncertainty, during which US President Donald Trump had intervened to block the initial candidacy of former Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki. Al-Maliki, who is close to Iran, was opposed by Trump, who warned that all support to Iraq would stop if he became prime minister.

However, both al-Maliki and outgoing Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani have since withdrawn their candidacies, allowing the Coordination Framework to move forward with its selection. Al-Zaidi has promised to focus on making Iraq “a balanced country, regionally and internationally” following his nomination.

The new government will face significant challenges, including the impact of the US-Israeli war against Iran, the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, and issues related to corruption, uncontrolled weapons, and the future of the Popular Mobilisation Forces.

Source: Al Jazeera