Iraqi candidate rejects nomination for prime minister

FORMER Iraqi Prime Minister Adel Abdul-Mahdi speaks during extraordinary cabinet meeting after he handed his resignation letter to the parliament, in Baghdad, Iraq on 30 November 2019. [Prime Ministry of Iraq / Handout – Anadolu Agency]

Outgoing Education Minister Qusay al-Suhail on Wednesday turned down nomination to be Iraq’s new prime minister, Anadolu reports.

In a letter to his al-Bina coalition, al-Suhail said conditions “were not favorable” for his nomination to the post.

The coalition, which is close to Iran, has nominated al-Suhail to replace Prime Minister Adel Abdul-Mahdi, who resigned earlier this month amid mass protests against his government.

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But his nomination was greeted with opposition from protesters, who have camped out in several Iraqi provinces since October to protest poor living conditions and deep-seated corruption.

Meanwhile, local media said that the coalition will nominate Basra governor Asaad al-Eidani for premiership.

At least 496 people have been killed and 17,000 injured in the protests, according to Iraq’s High Commission for Human Rights.

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