Iraqi Blocs Select New PM-Designate
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Iraq’s former communications minister Mohammed Allawi was named prime minister-designate by rival factions Saturday after weeks of political deadlock.
The selection of Allawi, 66, to replace outgoing Prime Minister Adel Abdul-Mahdi was the product of many back-room talks over months between rival parties, AP reported.
If elected by parliament, Allawi will have to contend with navigating Iraq through regional confrontations.
On Wednesday, President Barham Saleh gave parliamentary blocs until Feb. 1 to select a premier candidate, or said he would exercise his constitutional powers and choose one himself.
Allawi was born in Baghdad and served as communications minister first in 2006 and again between 2010-2012. He resigned from his post after a dispute with former prime minister Nouri al-Maliki.
Parliament is expected to put his candidacy to a vote in the next session once a formal letter declaring Allawi as a nominee from the president is submitted, after which he has 30 days to formulate a government program and select a Cabinet.
According to the constitution, a replacement for Abdul-Mahdi should have been identified 15 days after his resignation in early December under pressure from the protest movement. Instead, it has taken rival blocs nearly two months of jockeying to select Allawi as their consensus candidate.
