Peregraf — Iraq's ruling Coordination Framework (CF) announced on Monday the selection of Ali al-Zaidi as its candidate for prime minister, and President Nizar Amidi officially tasked him with forming the next Iraqi government.
The announcement came during a meeting of the Coordination Framework held at the residence of Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) Chairman Falih al-Fayyadh in Baghdad, attended by the alliance's senior leaders and representatives of major political forces.
In its statement, the CF praised the performance of caretaker Prime Minister Mohammed Shia' al-Sudani and his government over the past three and a half years, describing its handling of economic, regional, and international challenges as "national and responsible."
The alliance said al-Sudani's government had achieved what it called significant progress in development and helped restore public confidence in Iraq's political and electoral system, reflected in what it described as broad participation in the recent parliamentary elections.
Maliki and Sudani Withdraw
The Coordination Framework also praised what it described as the "historic and responsible" positions of Nouri al-Maliki, leader of the State of Law Coalition, and al-Sudani, leader of the Reconstruction and Development Coalition (RDC).
According to the statement, both leaders stepped down from contention for the premiership in order to break the political deadlock and allow the alliance to agree on a new nominee.
The move followed weeks of internal divisions within the Shiite alliance over the prime minister nomination, with disputes centered on the candidacies of al-Maliki and al-Sudani and mounting concerns over constitutional deadlines.
Ali al-Zaidi Selected
After reviewing several names, the Coordination Framework announced that it had selected Ali al-Zaidi as its "consensus candidate" for prime minister, as the representative of the largest parliamentary bloc in the Iraqi Council of Representatives. The nomination came on the last day before the constitutional deadline expired — marking 16 days since the election of President Nizar Amidi on April 11.
Shortly after the announcement, President Nizar Amidi formally tasked al-Zaidi with forming the next government, in the presence of the majority of political forces.
Al-Zaidi, 40, is a businessman and politician with a background in law and finance. He currently chairs the National Holding Company and previously served as chairman of al-Janoob Islamic Bank. He now faces the constitutional requirement of presenting a cabinet to parliament within 30 days.
His nomination came after at least seven Coordination Framework meetings that repeatedly failed to produce a candidate, along with postponed sessions and deep divisions within Iraq's ruling Shiite political house. Political sources have noted that al-Zaidi may face challenges in securing parliamentary approval once formally tasked.
The selection is widely described as an attempt to preserve unity within the Coordination Framework and avert a broader political crisis over government formation.