Iraqi PM-designate al-Zaidi seeks political backing for new government

Iraqi Prime Minister-designate Ali al-Zaidi launched his first official consultations on Wednesday, meeting with leaders of major political blocs to secure support for his anticipated government. According to statements from the prime minister’s office, al-Zaidi held separate talks with State of Law Coalition leader Nouri al-Maliki, Badr Organization Secretary-General Hadi al-Amiri, and National Wisdom Movement leader Ammar al-Hakim. During his meeting with al-Maliki, whose coalition holds 29 parliamentary seats, al-Zaidi stressed “the need for all political forces to unite efforts to expedite the formation of a national government that meets the aspirations of Iraqis across the country.”

Parliamentary arithmetic

Al-Maliki’s bloc is the second-largest within the Coordination Framework after the Reconstruction and Development Coalition, led by current Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, which holds 46 seats. The Badr Organization controls 18 seats, and al-Hakim’s bloc holds 14. Through these meetings, al-Zaidi aims to secure at least 61 votes from within the Coordination Framework as an initial step toward reaching the 165 votes needed for parliamentary confidence in the 329-seat legislature.

Political context

On Monday, President Nizar Amidi formally tasked al-Zaidi with forming a new government after the Coordination Framework—the largest parliamentary bloc—selected him as its candidate for prime minister. Under Iraq’s power-sharing system, the presidency is reserved for Kurds (currently Amidi), the prime ministership for Shiites, and the parliament speakership for Sunnis (currently Haibat al-Halbousi).