Maliki in the news again as Iraq politics swirl: back in the PM mix amid factional wrangling; longtime Dawa Party leader (born 1950).
Iraq has elected Nizar Amidi as president after a delayed vote, as the country continues to recover from the US-Israeli war on Iran. The election occurs during ongoing violence linked to the conflict, with Iraq facing political and economic instability. The prime minister's appointment remains unresolved.
The United States has placed multimillion-dollar bounties on two Iran-aligned Iraqi militia leaders and paused security cooperation with Iraq as it pressures Baghdad to curb militias linked to Tehran amid ongoing regional tensions and a stalled government formation in Baghdad.
Ali al-Zaidi has been named prime minister-designate by Iraq’s Coordination Framework after weeks of deadlock and US pressure. He is a businessman with no prior government office, and he will need to secure 167 votes in parliament within 30 days to form a government amid ongoing regional tensions and economic challenges.
Iraqi PM-designate Ali al-Zaidi is navigating joint internal bloc negotiations and US pressure as he moves to form a cabinet within 30 days, amid stakes tied to Iran-aligned factions and wider regional security concerns.