Iraq PM-Designate Withdraws Candidacy as Kurds, Opposition Block Cabinet

Kurds reach deal with opposition to prevent govt formation

Posted on ories Ta

Iraqi PM-designate Mohammed Allawi’s candidacy ended on Sunday, when he announced he is withdrawing from consideration after being unable to form a government in the face of political opposition.

Allawi’s chances of forming a government collapsed over the weekend with an announced deal between opposition blocs and the Kurds. This precluded getting enough votes to form a government, and rather than wait, Allawi has chosen to back away, leaving the president to find another candidate.

Finding a candidate who is both palatable to a political majority and to mass anti-government protest movements is a tall order. The only reason anyone thought Allawi could win was because of the Sadrist bloc backing him.

This could end up being a big blow for Sadr, who committed heavily to Allawi’s interim government, cost himself a lot of support from the protest movement, and ended up with no government at all.

Published at https://news.antiwar.com/2020/03/01/iraq-pm-designate-withdraws-candidacy-as-opposition-blocks-cabinet/