After Monday’s parliament session failed to reach any agreements, the Tuesday meeting of Iraq’s parliament settled on Barham Salih as the new president. Salih had served as a prime minister for the Kurdistan Regional Government, and also as a deputy premier for the central government.
This was just the latest in a long process to form the Iraqi government after May’s election, and more progress was made thereafter, with Salih appointing a PM-designate charged with trying to form a new government.
The designate, interestingly, is Oil Minister Adel Abdul-Mahdi. A top Supreme Islamic Council figure, Mahdi is no stranger to being in the running for premier, but as a current independent MP he was something of a surprise.
It also doesn’t clarify which bloc is forming this new government. Mahdi has potential ties with several blocs, and could fit in multiple scenarios. His position as Oil Minister is a very powerful one in the government, and shows he has substantial influence going forward.
