In more than five months without a prime minister, Iraq’s parliament has approved the appointment of Mustafa al-Kadhimim, former Iraqi intelligence chief, as the new prime minister.
The prime minister, Mustafa al-Kadhimi is the real Iraqi prime minister since Adel Abdul Mahdi stepped down from the position due to persistent anti government protests over government corruption and joblessness in Iraq.
Iraq officials said that Kadhimi was acceptable to the United State and Iran, which is another foreign power competing for influence over Iran.
In a call to Kadhimi, The US secretary of state, Mike Pompeo has welcomed the new government and stated that Washington would renew a waiver for 120 days that would allow Iraq to import electricity from Iran in order to help the government have a good condition for success.
Speaking after the parliament vote, Kadhimi said that the country is facing many challenges at present but they could stand up to the challenge in a determined way.
“We are going through a critical phase in our history. Iraq is facing so many challenges – in our security, economy, healthcare and even socially, but it is not bigger than our determination to stand up to these challenges,” Kadhimi said.
On his twitter handle, Kadhimi stated what his primary assignments are as the new leader of the country. He said, “The security, stability and blossoming of Iraq is our path.”
He also said that his priority is to lead the battle against coronavirus and to be more open to the protesters as he promised to protect them and hold those who killed protesters in the previous months to account.
Rahman Jubori, a senior fellow at the American University of Iraq in Sulimaniya, said Kadhimi is a secular and liberal person.
“With this prime minister, Iraq is breaking the cycle of having a prime minister who comes from political Islam. He is kind of a liberal, secular person,” Jubori said.
Referring to the Kadhimi’s readiness to negotiate with anti-government protesters, Jubori said, “We have an opportunity now to shake the system; we are not going to change the system, but we can shake it.”
With votes from a majority of lawmakers present while deciding on other cabinets such as interior, defence, finance and electricity, Kadhimi’s candidates were approved and passed.
However, disagreement over candidates for oil and foreign ministries has led to voting on both posts being delayed. Kadhimi’s picks for justice, agriculture and trade were also rejected.
As the new Iraqi prime minister, Kadhimi’s primary assignment would be to face the economic crisis caused by coronavirus which has led to oil prices plummeting.
