Iraqi President Names Intelligence Chief Al-Kadhimi as New PM

On Thursday, the Iraqi President Barham Salih picked up the intelligence chief Mustafa al-Kadhimi as the new prime minister-designate.

Earlier today, Salih received al-Kadhimi in his office in the Presidential Palace in central Baghdad and handed him the task letter to form a new government within 30 days in the presence of some political leaders and senior officials.

The appointment of of Al-Kadhimi came after the withdrawal of the previous designated prime minister, Adnan al-Zurfi, due to failing to secure enough support to pass a government.

Al-Kadhimi, 53, has headed the Iraqi Intelligence Service since June 2016.

On Wednesday, the Iraqi Forces Alliance, a major Sunni political bloc headed by Parliament Speaker Mohammed al-Halbousi, announced in a statement its support for nominating al-Kadhimi as the new prime minister-designate.

It is noteworthy that Salih has named al-Zurfi on March 17th as the next prime minister-designate of the country to form an interim government after the Shiite political blocs failed to nominate a candidate for the post.

Al Zurfi was a former U.S.- run official who took over Iraq to replace Saddam Hussein after the 2003 invasion.

Al Zurfi, 54, was part of former Prime Minister Haider Al Abadi‘s Nasr parliamentary party, also a US ally.

He has 30 days to form his government, which will then have to be put to a vote of confidence in the pided Parliament of Iraq.

He was the second man chosen to attempt to form a government following the resignation of Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi in late November.

Since October, Iraq has been rattled with mass demonstrations. More than 500 demonstrators were killed in the subsequent government response and thousands of soldiers and Iran-backed militias were injured.

Mohammed Allawi was first chosen in February to succeed Abdul Mahdi. He withdrew his candidacy after failing to gain the support of sufficient MPs to obtain a vote of confidence.

The country has been at a political deadlock with infighting between Shiite factions, and disputes with Kurdish and Sunni politicians to find a consensus for the new government.