Ali al-Zaidi Nominated for Prime Minister in Iraq

Following months of political deadlock after November’s general elections, Iraq’s Coordination Framework has officially nominated Ali al-Zaidi as its candidate for prime minister. The breakthrough occurred after current Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Sudani and former Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki formally withdrew from the race. Al-Maliki stepped down following intense opposition from US President Donald Trump, who threatened to pull American support for Iraq if the former leader returned to power. The Shiite coalition praised both withdrawals as a responsible and historic step to protect the nation’s stability. As the largest bloc in parliament, the Coordination Framework now looks to quickly form a new government in Baghdad under al-Zaidi’s leadership.