Hashd Sha'abi’s leader says he won't run for Iraq’s premiership

Secretary general of Iraq's Badr Organization, who is also the leader of the political Fatah (Conquest) Alliance and the pro-government Hashd al-Sha’abi (Popular Mobilization Units), has withdrawn his candidacy for prime minister, stressing the need for political consensus in order to make progress in the Arab country’s political process.

According to Press TV, Hadi al-Ameri said in a press conference in Baghdad on Tuesday “I would like to announce to the dear Iraqi people the withdrawal of my candidature for the head of the Council of Ministers, to open the way for serious dialogue to elect a prime minister and his government according to the vision of the Supreme Religious Authority,”.

He added, “There is no choice but reaching consensus in the political process, and prioritizing public interests over private ones.”

On September 13, outgoing Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi said he was not seeking to serve a second term in office. 

“We respect and obey the instructions of the Prominent Religious Authority Grand Ayatollah Seyyed Ali al-Sistani. I did not and will not request the post of prime minister in the second term,” he said at a news conference in Baghdad

Ayatollah Sistani, the country’s most senior Shia cleric, said earlier this month that Iraq needed new faces in the government. 

Iraqi lawmakers on Saturday elected former governor of Anbar Province Mohammed al-Halbousi as the speaker of the 329-seat Parliament, putting the country one step closer to forming a government for the next four years.

During a parliamentary session with 298 lawmakers in attendance, Halbousi garnered 169 votes, while his competitor, former Defense Minister Khalid al-Obeidi, obtained 89 votes.

Former Parliament Speaker Osama al-Nujaifi and politician Mohammed al-Khalidi received lower numbers of votes.

ME