Ali Al-Zaidi Nominated As Prime Minister By Iraqi President.

Bagdad; April 2026: Iraq’s newly elected President Nizar Amedi has named Ali Al-Zaidi as the country’s Prime Minister designate and officially tasked him with forming a government. Zaidi was named yesterday (27th April 2026) as the main candidate of the Coordination Framework, a coalition of Shia political parties which is Iraq’s largest parliamentary bloc.

“After considering the names of the candidates, Ali Al-Zaidi was chosen to be the candidate of the Coordination Framework bloc, as the largest bloc in the House of Representatives, to occupy the position of Prime Minister and form the next government”, a coalition’s statement read after a meeting in Baghdad. The coalition, in a statement announcing Zaidi’s nomination, thanked Maliki and Sudani for their “historic and responsible positions” in withdrawing their candidacies to help overcome the political impasse. Sudani issued a statement congratulating Zaidi.

The selection of Zaidi breaks a months-long deadlock. State of Law Coalition leader Nouri l-Maliki was positioned as the most likely candidate for the premiership following the November elections. However, US President Donald Trump threatened to cut off support for Iraq should he be elected to the office.

However, the Coordination Framework stated that Maliki and outgoing Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani had withdrawn their candidacies.

Zaidi, who is chairman of al-Janoob Islamic Bank, emerged in the final stages of discussions as a leading candidate, bolstered by his economic background and connections in the business and investment sectors. He has not previously held political office. Immediately after he was designated by the Iraqi President, Zaidi promised to focus on making Iraq “a balanced country, regionally and internationally”.

“This appointment comes at a sensitive time that requires concerted efforts from all political and social forces,” he said.

Under the constitution, the designated Prime Minister has 30 days to present a cabinet to parliament, with 167 votes required to secure a vote of confidence. In the country’s power-sharing system, in place since 2003 following the US-led coalition’s invasion, the presidency goes to the Kurds, the premiership to Shia Arabs, and the post of parliament speaker to the Sunnis.

Back on April 11, this month – the Iraqi legislature elected the main candidate of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) political party, Nizar Amedi, as Iraq’s President.

Immediately after Nizar Amedi was elected the President of Iraq, Commander of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Quds Force, Brigadier General Esmaeil Qaani, says the formation of a government is a legitimate right of the Iraqi nation, emphasizing that the election of the next Prime Minister falls solely within their authority. ‎”Iraq is above the interference of others, especially those who commit crimes against humanity”, General Qaani said.

‎General Qaani had underscored that the election of Iraq’s next Prime Minister must be decided entirely and solely by Iraqis. ‎The senior Iranian commander said that he recently travelled to Baghdad in order to convey the appreciation and gratitude of the Iranian nation and the Islamic Republic for the solidarity and cooperation shown by the insightful Iraqi people, the great religious authority, and Iraqi officials amid the US-Israeli war of aggression against Iran. He also hailed the Iraqi nation’s spirit of resilience and loyalty.

Team Maverick.