Peregraf — Senior Kurdish leaders have welcomed the designation of Ali al-Zaidi as Iraq's prime minister-designate, expressing support for the formation of an inclusive government and calling for stronger cooperation between Baghdad and the Kurdistan Region.
Nechirvan Barzani, President of the Kurdistan Region and Vice President of the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP), congratulated al-Zaidi and said he hopes the prime minister-designate will succeed in forming a comprehensive national government.
"We congratulate our brother, Mr. Ali al-Zaidi, on his nomination and designation for the position of Prime Minister, wishing him success in his tasks to form a comprehensive national government that meets the aspirations of our people across Iraq and works to enhance stability and reconstruction," Nechirvan Barzani said.
He added that the Kurdistan Region would support al-Zaidi and work with him "for a better future for all Iraqis."
PUK Support for Inclusive Government
Bafel Talabani, President of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), also welcomed al-Zaidi's nomination and pledged support for the success of the next government.
"We extend our best wishes to Mr. Ali al-Zaidi in this important task. We will help him succeed in forming a capable and inclusive government and to help that government move Iraq out of the economic and security crises it faces," Talabani said.
He added that the PUK would continue efforts to strengthen cooperation "in the interest of our people."
Masrour Barzani: Resolve Issues Based on the Constitution
Masrour Barzani, Prime Minister of the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) and Vice President of the KDP, said he personally congratulated al-Zaidi by phone.
"In a phone call, we congratulated Mr. Ali al-Zaidi on the occasion of his designation for the post of Federal Prime Minister. We wished him success in his mission to form the new cabinet of the federal government and expressed our support for resolving all issues based on the constitution," Masrour Barzani said.
He added that he hopes Iraq will enter "an era full of peace and stability."
Al-Zaidi Chosen After Weeks of Deadlock
On April 27, Iraq's Coordination Framework — a coalition of Shia parties — announced the selection of Ali al-Zaidi as its candidate for prime minister, and President Nizar Amedi officially tasked him with forming the next Iraqi government.
The announcement followed weeks of internal divisions within the coalition over the premiership, centered largely on the candidacies of former Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki and caretaker Prime Minister Mohammed Shia' al-Sudani. Both eventually withdrew their candidacies, allowing the coalition to settle on al-Zaidi as what it described as a "consensus candidate."
Al-Zaidi, who is in his early forties, is a businessman with a background in law and finance. He chairs the National Holding Company and previously served as chairman of al-Janoob Islamic Bank — one of a handful of Iraqi banks under US sanctions, which bar it from dealing in dollars over allegations of currency smuggling to Iran. He also serves as CEO of Dijlah TV and chairs the boards of Al-Shaab University and the Ishtar Medical Institute.
Under the Iraqi constitution, he now has 30 days to form a cabinet and secure parliamentary approval for his government.