Iraq Names New Prime Minister

Abadi to Form New Government within 30 Days – Maliki Defiant

Iranian Media Highlighting Malik’s Defiance

Iraqi president today named Haider al-Abadi as the new prime minister of Iraq, defying Maliki who has been standing his ground despite mounting pressure to step aside.

President Fuad Masum used his constitutional power to name Deputy Speaker Abadi, a leading member of the Shia's National Alliance and the spokesman for Da’wa party, to form the new Iraqi government. He has 30 days to introduce his cabinet to the parliament for a vote of confidence.

Abadi received widespread support from within the Iraqi establishment, as well as internationally. The Kurdish alliance as well as leading Shia politicians, including some members of Maliki’s State of Law bloc, expressed their approval. It was understood that the change in premiership also had the backing of the country’s influential Shia leader, Grand Ayatollah Sistani.

President Barack Obama called Prime Minister-designate Abadi on Monday afternoon, expressing the support of the U.S. government for his leadership to form a government of national unity at an earliest time possible. Earlier Secretary of State John Kerry had welcomed Abadi’s nomination, and the prospect of formation of an inclusive government.

But Maliki was defiant. He said in a televised address that he would launch a legal challenge against President Masum for not naming him to form the new government. He backed his challenge by having Iraqi Special Forces, apparently loyal to him, display a show of force in the capital. The Iraqi Army, however, said they are the “army of Iraq” and not of any person, answering to the legitimately-elected commander-in-chief.

Maliki’s challenge will raise tensions in Baghdad among the political elite of the country, probably at the worst time possible to maintain the country’s unity in the face of Islamic State’s advance.

Meanwhile, the Iranian media took an unexpected turn and effectively sided with Maliki. IRNA and Mehr News Agency highlighted Maliki’s defiance against naming of the new premier. This was unexpected as the Iranian officials and media were signaling in recent days of their disapproval of Maliki and publicly supporting Ayatollah Sistani, who had called for a change in leadership. The Iranians must have revisited their strategy regarding the issue, and could have encouraged Maliki and the Iraqi Supreme Court to go for a Maliki's third term. Or the official media could have gone against the leadership on this issue, which would be highly unlikely!

Photo credit: Iraqi Prime Minister-designate Haider al-Abadi (McClutchy)

Iraq: Prime Minister Maliki Moves Against President Masum

UPDATE: Iraqi Supreme Court Rules in Maliki's Favor

 

Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki today accused the country’s president for “breaching” Iraqi constitution by not assigning premiership to his State of Law bloc, which finished first in April’s parliamentary elections. Maliki made the remarks in a surprised speech televised live on national TV. Maliki added he will lodge a complaint against President Masum, without giving any details.

Sharqiah News reported on Sunday night that the government’s security forces have encircled the residence of President Masum. There are also reports that Maliki’s forces have besieged the residence of speaker of parliament. Iraqi Special Forces are seen in several locations in Baghdad. 

US Assistant Secretary of State Brett McGurk just tweeted the administration’s support for Iraqi President Fuad Masum:

“Fully support President of Iraq Fuad Masum as guarantor of the Constitution and a PM nominee who can build a national consensus,” said McGurk. (Twitter/@brett_mngurk)

UPDATE: The state TV said the Iraqi Supreme Court said on Monday that Prime Minister's Maliki's State of Law bloc is the largest faction in the Iraqi Parliament. The ruling supports Maliki's demand that he should be asked to form the next government. 

Photo credit: Iraqi Special Forces in the Green Zone in Baghdad, 10 August 2014. (Almada Press)  

Masum Is Named President of Iraq

The Iraqi parliament today elected Kurdish politician Fuad Masum as the new president of Iraq.

The vote for president -- a largely ceremonial post -- was delayed for a day when the Kurdish bloc requested more time to select a candidate. They named Masum as their pick late Wednesday. (AP, 24 July)

To read more about Masum, please click here to see our post of 20 July.

PUK Nominates Fuad Masum for Iraqi President

Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) announced today that Fuad Masum, the head of Kurdish alliance bloc in Iraqi parliament, will be its candidate for Iraq’s presidency, Rudaw reported today. PUK’s announcement came a day after its leader and the current Iraqi president Jalal Talabani returned to Iraq after long absence for medical treatment. PUK traditionally fills the post of president.

Fuad Masum is a veteran Kurdish politician and senior member of PUK leadership council and has been member of Iraqi parliament since 2005 and the Head of Kurdish alliance bloc in Iraqi parliament for the last four years. 

Masum studied at Egypt’s prestigious Al-Azhar University, where he earned his undergraduate and graduate degrees in Islamic studies. He became a member of the Iraqi Communist Party, which he left early in his career to join the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) in 1964. Masum was a representative of the KDP and Mustafa Barzani in Cairo between 1973-75. He helped the reconciliation process with the PUK in the 1980s, when PUK and KDP were at war. In 1992, he became the first prime minister of Kurdistan.


UPDATE: On Monday 7/21, another PUK official, former foreign minister Barham Salih, also registered for the post of presidency. It was not immediately clear if both Salih and Masum were candidates of PUK, or if Salih was running independently.

File photo: PUK official Fuad Masum (Al Arabiya/ekurd)