Iraq Shia alliance names Bassem al-Badry as PM nominee

Iraq’s alliance of Shia political blocs, the Coordination Framework, has named Bassem al-Badry as its nominee for the post of prime minister, a brief statement from the bloc said on Monday.

This comes after former prime minster Nouri al-Maliki’s prospects of becoming Iraq’s next premier faded. In January, US President Donald Trump threatened to stop supporting Iraq if al-Maliki returned to the post.

Trump’s ultimatum left Iraqi leaders at a loss, particularly within the Coordination Framework, a Shia alliance with varying degrees of ties to Iran, that had initially nominated al-Maliki.

By convention, a Shia holds the powerful post of prime minister, the parliament speaker is a Sunni, and the largely ceremonial presidency goes to a Kurd.