Iraq's Shi'ite Leadership Contemplates New Prime Minister

On Monday, leaders from Iraq's main Shi'ite Muslim political blocs considered government official Bassem al-Badry as a possible nominee for the country's prime minister position, though no formal announcement followed the meeting, two officials reported.

Contrarily, two other Iraqi sources familiar with the discussions among 12 key Shi'ite leaders forming the Coordination Framework claimed that no nomination was decided, stating that talks were still in progress, according to Iraqi state media.

The next appointee would succeed the previous choice, veteran politician and former Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki. His candidacy in January met with direct opposition from then-U.S. President Donald Trump, who threatened to withdraw Iraq support if Maliki, who governed from 2006 to 2014, was reappointed.