Iraq's newly elected President nominated businessman Ali al-Zaidi as the country's Prime Minister-designate on Monday (April 27, 2026), after he was endorsed by the country's main Shia alliance.
"President Nizar Amede has tasked Ali al-Zaidi, the candidate of the largest parliamentary bloc, with forming the new government," the presidency said in a statement.
The announcement came shortly after the Coordination Framework, an alliance of Shia factions with varying links to Iran and that had initially nominated Maliki, endorsed Zaidi to be its candidate.
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The Coordination Framework had initially backed powerbroker Nouri al-Maliki to become the country's next prime minister, but an ultimatum by U.S. President Donald Trump reshuffled the cards.
