Iraq: Businessman Ali al-Zaidi nominated to become new prime minister
The largest bloc in Iraq's parliament has chosen businessman Ali al-Zaidi as its prime minister designate, five months after the country's elections.
Zaidi, a businessman with little political experience, was chosen by the Coordination Framework to try to form a new government.
"President Nizar Amede has tasked Ali al-Zaidi, the candidate of the largest parliamentary bloc, with forming the new government," the presidency said in a statement.
Zaidi will now have 30 days to form a government.
The businessman's nomination sidelines both the incumbent, Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, and former Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, who had previously been suggested as the bloc's nominee.
Originally from Dhi Qar province, Zaidi was chairman of Al-Watania Holding Group, a multinational conglomerate. Before that, he was chairman of Al-Janoob Islamic Bank, one of the country's larger private financial institutions.
The bank, which he chaired until 2019, was sanctioned by the US in 2024 over allegations of money laundering, fraud and the illicit use of American currency. It was also banned by the Central Bank of Iraq.
Zaidi has never held political office and his name did not come up in reports of earlier negotiations to decide the nominee.
In a statement, the Coordination Framework, which is a coalition of Shia parties, congratulated Zaidi on his appointment and praised the "historic and responsible stance" of both Sudani and Maliki in choosing to step aside.
US President Donald Trump said in January that he would "no longer help" Iraq if Maliki were nominated as prime minister.
Although originally a close ally of the US, Maliki has in recent years been seen as being heavily aligned with Iran, and was accused of stoking sectarianism during his time in office.
He also oversaw the collapse of the Iraqi army and loss of swathes of territory to the Islamic State group in 2014, which many blamed on corruption endemic under his rule.
Zaidi's nomination comes at a time of regional tensions, which continuously threaten to engulf Iraq.
A shaky ceasefire has held between the United States and Iran in recent weeks, as talks have intermittently taken place to end the two-month-long conflict launched by Israel and the US.
Iran-backed armed groups in Iraq have carried out sporadic attacks on US, Gulf and Israeli interests since the beginning of the genocide in Gaza in 2023. The disarmament of the groups has been a long-standing demand of Washington.
Conversely, the Iran-backed groups and other political parties in Iraq have demanded the withdrawal of US forces from the country.
In a post on X, the UK ambassador to Iraq welcomed Zaidi's nomination.
"The United Kingdom welcomes the nomination of a new Prime Minister in Iraq," wrote Irfan Siddiq.
"We wish Mr. Ali al-Zaydi success in swiftly forming a new government and look forward to working with the new government on the urgent challenges facing Iraq – particularly on security and the economy."
This article was sourced from Middle East Eye.
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