Abadi Likely to Remain Iraq’s Prime Minister: Source
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – While Iraqi parties have launched talks to form a coalition government after the recent parliamentary election, a political source speculated that the incumbent prime minister, Haider al-Abadi, will have the highest chance of retaking the helm.
Alsumaria News quoted an Iraqi political source as saying on Saturday that Haider al-Abadi, Falih al-Fayyadh, Qusay al-Suhail, and Mohammed Shia' al-Sudani are the four figures with good chances of becoming the next prime minister.
The source, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the incumbent premier will have the highest chance of success, adding that the Sadr bloc, which came out on top in the election, has designated Jaafar al-Sadr as the candidate for the post of prime minister.
According to the source, Salih al-Hasnawi is also a potential major candidate for the post, should the Fatah alliance succeed to form a greater coalition.
Muqtada al-Sadr's Sairoon coalition took 54 out of 328 seats in the May 12 parliamentary election in Iraq.
With no bloc winning the 165 seats required for an outright majority, negotiations to form a coalition government in Iraq are expected to drag on for weeks.
