Former oil minister chosen to reshape Iraq beyond the 2003 structure
The appointment of a new prime minister for Iraq, Adel Abdul Mahdi, was met with cautious optimism.
The former oil minister was picked by President Barham Salih – himself newly elected – on Tuesday night, and given the responsibility of forming a government. He has 30 days to submit his cabinet to parliament for approval.
Although hailed as an independent candidate not allied with either of the two Shiite-led blocs, Mr Abdul Mahdi’s rise to power coincides with significant socio-political problems in Iraq – including strained relations with the Kurdistan Region, months of deadly clashes in the southern province of Basra and ongoing Iranian interference.
Since the United States-led invasion of Iraq in 2003, the country has been used as a battleground between Iran and the US as they struggle for influence in the region.
But Tuesday’s election of Mr Salih and Mr Abdul Mahdi produced no clear winner in the Tehran-Washington battle as both leaders present themselves as moderate and unaligned.
Prominent figures like populist cleric Moqtada Al Sadr and Shiite militia commander Hadi Al Amiri – backed Mr Abdul Mahdi’s nomination for the top post.
“It seems that from both sides he was a compromise because he wasn’t perceived to be too powerful [or a] potential threat to either side,” Renad Mansour, senior research fellow at the Chatham House think tank, told The National.
Mr Abdul Mahdi, 76, is an economist who served as oil and finance minister and vice president in previous governments.
He left Iraq in 1969 for France, where he worked for think tanks and edited magazines in French and Arabic.
He is the son of a respected Shiite cleric who was a minister in the era of Iraq’s monarchy.
According to the Iraqi constitution, the prime minister-designate has 30 days to form a cabinet and present it to parliament for approval.
While some are sceptical about his ability to fix Iraq’s troubles, his nomination has been met with optimism by some. He is the first prime minister since the fall of Saddam Hussein not to hail from the Shiite Dawa party.
For some he brings hope to Iraq at a time when sectarianism and political divisions are at a high.
The new government will take over a country faced with the challenge of reconstruction after the war against ISIS, which displaced millions and contributed to a troubled economy.
The winning parties will distribute the ministries and are expected to offer five candidates for each. Mr Abdul Mahdi will choose between them.
He is expected to strike a balance between what the political parties are demanding of him and having a minister who can deliver reform, Mr Mansour said.
“The big challenge is to see if he can move away from the post-2003 structure,” he said.
It remains to be seen whether Mr Abdul Mahdi can “bring more power to state institutions” by choosing ministers who are not necessarily tied to political parties, Mr Mansour said.
If the prime minister does not succeed in forming a cabinet within a month, the Iraqi president will be forced into
choosing a new candidate. His chances of forming a new government within the deadline are “pretty high”, Kirk Sowell, an Iraq expert, told The National.
“With ministries to distribute, he has an enormous amount of leverage because he is on good terms with everyone,” Mr Sowell said.
Mr Abdul Mahdi’s first step would be dividing important posts up between politicians who back Mr Al Sadr and Mr Al Amiri.
“The Patriotic Union of Kurdistan has the presidency so doesn’t have to be satisfied, and since the Kurdistan Democratic Party lost [the presidency position], they can be given leftover scraps,” Mr Sowell said.
“Al Amiri and Al Sadr get what they demand, Shiite blocs he needs to keep happy next, then Sunnis and Kurds last, since they’ve already got their biggest demand,” he said.
Mr Abdul Mahdi would be the first prime minister since the fall of Saddam Hussein not to hail from the Shiite Dawa party