Iraq's president sidesteps al-Maliki and offers PM's job to al-Abadi
- 10 years ago
Iraqi politics have been thrown into turmoil in a succession of events on Monday that may spell the end of the prime minister’s career.
The National Alliance, the Shi’ite community’s main political coalition, chose Haider al-Abadi as its prime ministerial candidate. He is the man most likely to get the Shi’ite support Maliki has until now relied upon.
Earlier al-Maliki looked to have won his battle to serve a third consecutive term when a court overturned a constitutional two-term limit. He then threatened the new president, a Kurd, with legal action if he did not offer al-Maliki’s State of Law party the chance to form a new government.
Al-Maliki’s political allies immediately rejected the move as illegitimate, with a close al-Maliki aide saying al-Abadi “only represents himself”, but President Fouad Masoum has asked him to form a new government.
However the United States was quick to congratulate al-Abadi on his nomination. This may indicate Washington’s patience may be at an end with a man many accuse of following divisive policies in Iraq and doing nothing to rebuild the economy, or prevent the Sunni militant ISIL forces from overrunning half of the country.
The National Alliance, the Shi’ite community’s main political coalition, chose Haider al-Abadi as its prime ministerial candidate. He is the man most likely to get the Shi’ite support Maliki has until now relied upon.
Earlier al-Maliki looked to have won his battle to serve a third consecutive term when a court overturned a constitutional two-term limit. He then threatened the new president, a Kurd, with legal action if he did not offer al-Maliki’s State of Law party the chance to form a new government.
Al-Maliki’s political allies immediately rejected the move as illegitimate, with a close al-Maliki aide saying al-Abadi “only represents himself”, but President Fouad Masoum has asked him to form a new government.
However the United States was quick to congratulate al-Abadi on his nomination. This may indicate Washington’s patience may be at an end with a man many accuse of following divisive policies in Iraq and doing nothing to rebuild the economy, or prevent the Sunni militant ISIL forces from overrunning half of the country.