Iraqi president names Adil Abdul-Mahdi as prime minister
Baghdad (IraqiNews.com) – Iraq’s newly-elected president Barham Salih has named veteran Shiite politician Adil Abdul-Mahdi as prime minister-designate and tasked him with forming a new government, a step which is expected to restore the country’s stability following a political deadlock.
The announcement was aired on the official Iraqi TV a few hours after Salih was named as Iraq’s president.
Under the Iraqi constitution, Abdul-Mahdi would have 30 days to form a cabinet and present it to parliament for approval.
For his part, outgoing prime minister Haider al-Abadi congratulated Abdul-Mahdi on assuming the premiership and wished him success in his duties.
Abadi further expressed hope that Abdul-Mahdi would form a strong government, which is capable of providing the best services for the Iraqi people.
Iraqi politicians have been in a deadlock over the formation of a new government since an election in May.
Under an informal power-sharing agreement in place since the 2003 ouster of former Iraqi president Saddam Hussein, the position of Iraqi president goes to a Kurd.
The parliament speaker should be a Sunni Muslim, and the prime minister should be a Shi’a.