With Iraq's government-formation process still underway, the prospect of a return to power by Nouri al-Maliki has stoked memories of an era that ended in a terrifying collapse and fears that it could prompt retaliation from Donald Trump.
Maliki was prime minister between 2006 and 2014, until the Islamic State group seized vast areas of Iraq's north and west, exposing the endemic sectarianism and corruption that had hollowed the state out under his watch. He has since headed the influential Dawa party.
When it became clear that the current prime minister, Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, could not form a new government following elections in November, the Coalition Framework alliance of Shia parties chose Maliki as their new candidate - and therefore presumptive premier.
A planned vote on a new president was shelved on Tuesday, to allow Kurdish parties (who choose the president by convention) to select a candidate.
Once selected, it will be the job of the president to grant a prime ministerial candidate a chance to form a government, and with Maliki the choice of the largest bloc in parliament, it's likely he will get the first shot.
