Iraqi president nominates Ali al-Zaidi as prime minister candidate

Iraqi President Nizar Amedi has appointed Ali al-Zaidi as the prime minister-designate, tasked with forming a new government. Al-Zaidi was selected by the Coordination Framework, a coalition of Shia parties with a parliamentary majority, and his appointment ends a prolonged deadlock that began when former Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki was initially proposed but faced opposition from U.S. President Donald Trump due to al-Maliki’s ties to Iran. Following this, both al-Maliki and outgoing Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani withdrew their candidacies.

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